T&T midfielder Kevin Molino will miss the country's next two FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against the Bahamas and St Kitts and Nevis on June 5 and 8, respectively, as he continues to struggle to recover from a hamstring injury.
The new Columbus Crew signing confirmed this on Wednesday as he explained the nature of his injury which could take him just over a month to be back to full fitness and back on the playing field.
"As for now, I have been jogging, I've been working 40-50 per cent, so still taking my time. I don't want to rush anything and go back even longer. I have a grade one and a strained hamstring which is high because the blood doesn't flow, so I need to do two PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections so the recovery is going to be longer. But I feel good, I feel healthy, it's just a matter of getting back fit and maintaining my strength for now.
"I think it would be two to three weeks back in training but for games, it may be three to four weeks because now we go into a break. On the 29th of this month, we go into an international break which would give me a lot more time. The next game is going to be June 19, so it's quite a long time, which would give me a lot of time to get fit and be ready for the rest of the season," Molino explained.
The talented midfielder missed the country's first two qualifying matches against Guyana which the national team won 3-0 in the Dominican Republic, and later against Puerto Rico which finished 1-1 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The results put the Soca Warriors in second position in Group F on four points, with St Kitts and Nevis leading with six points in their two matches.
From the equation, the Warriors will need to win their next two matches for a chance to finish at the top of the group if they are to advance to the next round of the qualifiers.
Molino told Guardian Media Sports he has to take time to heal, noting that if he rushes back he may even have to miss the CONCACAF Gold Cup, scheduled for July.
According to Molino: "It's a matter of taking my time and making sure I look after myself first and my health to perform for T&T and my club. I think the boys have done well. Yes, we can do better but it's a work in progress and we just have to keep going and try to get the two victories."
He added that he expects the boys to show personality and to play with emotions, in the midst of a difficult time that has been caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
SOURCE: T&T Guardian