Adelaide United questions the handling of striker Al Hassan Toure’s potentially season-ending injury sustained on Olyroos duty
The decision for Adelaide United young gun Al Hassan Toure to play for the Olyroos while injured has been slammed by the Reds, amid fears he may miss the remainder of the A-League season.
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Adelaide United has slammed the decision for young gun Al Hassan Toure to play for the Olyroos while injured, amid fears he may miss the remainder of the A-League season.
The Reds striker picked up a foot problem midway through the national team’s Asian under-23 championship campaign in Thailand, which doubled as Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers.
But the teenage sensation was allowed to feature in Australia’s remaining three matches of the tournament, coming off the bench to grab the extra-time winner against Syria.
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Scans on Monday revealed Toure had sustained a stress fracture of the second metatarsal in his right foot, after he had returned to the club limping and with heavy swelling.
Adelaide director of football Bruce Djite questioned the handling of the youngster’s injury, as he was potentially ruled out for the rest of the campaign.
“When he left us, he didn’t have any problem,” said Djite, on Friday.
“Over there, they realised he had a problem, they didn’t send him for any scans, which is generally what you would do.
“You’ve got these assets, you’ve got to take care of them.
“He can help us win games.
“He can help them qualify for the Olympics, as he did.
“But it’s very clear that everyone works in their own self-interest.
“When you’re taking care of young kids, you’ve got to take care of them.
“I don’t think that was the case.”
Djite said the club asked for the Croydon Kings product, who has scored seven goals in 14 games this season, to return to the Reds to receive treatment.
But he was assured by national coach Graham Arnold it was only a minor problem.
“During that period … I got a message from Graham Arnold saying ‘don’t worry about Toure, (he) just got a kick on the foot, he’s fine’,” Djite said.
“They felt confident enough that it wasn’t a stress fracture injury, it was a niggle.
“But we’re talking about a stress fracture in someone’s foot.
“I used to play, I know what a niggle is.
“He’s a young player, he’s 19. He’s not a player that's 29.
“You can self-diagnose once you’ve got experience.
“They were just guessing and asking the player, ‘do you feel OK to play’.
“I have never met a player in my career when a coach asks if they’re OK to play that says ‘no’.
“So of course he’s saying ‘yes’, but he’s in pain.”
Djite said Toure was unlikely to require surgery, but would require at last eight weeks to recover from the setback sidelining him until the round 27 meeting with Sydney FC.
Verbeek was critical of losing the African-born speedster during a tournament the A-League did not take an international break for.
The Dutch manager believed Toure might not return this campaign.
“It’s a stupid rule that we have to play (A-League) games when one of your starters is not in the squad,” Verbeek said.
“We’re not happy with it.
“But we have to manage it.
“Probably he (Toure) will be away until the end of the season and maybe then he is ready for the Olympics.
“He’s broken.
“He’s not there, so I have to plan without him.”
A Football Federation Australia spokesman said the governing body had been “open and clear” with Adelaide United during and following the tournament regarding Toure’s condition.
“Toure was medically cleared to participate in all (training) sessions immediately prior to matches, as well as all matches,” the spokesman said.
“FFA’s medical staff with the team completed daily health, wellbeing and load management with all squad members, and Toure reported as healthy prior to being discharged from camp on Sunday.
“FFA, like Adelaide United, places the long-term health and future careers of all its athletes as a top priority.
“Any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate.”
The news came as United midfielder James Troisi was ruled out for two-three weeks with a quadricep injury, having only returned to action after missing two games with a hamstring problem.
Playmaker Riley McGree remains a 50/50 chance for the fifth-placed Reds’ home clash with Melbourne City on Saturday night, following the foot issue he sustained in training this week.