Toronto FC's manager has revealed why Bafana Bafana international Cassius Mailula has struggled to get into his team this season.
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The Canadian-based MLS franchise have played four games since the 2024 campaign got underway, but the former Mamelodi Sundowns striker has not played a single minute of football for John Herdman’s side.
Toronto’s most recent encounter saw them suffer defeat for the first time this season as they lost 2-1 to New York City and after the game, Mailula’s head coach revealed why the 22-year-old is not yet a prominent figure in his plans.
"Yeah, I think it is a number of things," Herdman said, as per Goal.
"One, you have Lorenzo [Insigne], [Federico] Bernardeschi and [Jonathan] Osorio in those what I call magician-type positions, that they are critical to the way we play.
"Their level is just too high, if Lorenzo comes off, Osorio will typically move into that position, if Bernardeschi goes out wide, Osorio will move in," the Englishman added."So, for him (Mailula), he will have to wait for his moment when those players are unavailable or in a national week."
Since moving to Canada, the Ga-Molepo native has struggled for regular game time, a matter which has consequently led to him losing his spot in the national team.
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Hugo Broos did question Mailula’s move to a team where former Juventus and Napoli stars are so prevalent, and it would seem his doubts were valid, with the attacker only making three appearances for his new team since his arrival in July 2023.
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