Steven Caldwell expected back for Toronto FC

TORONTO – The trainer’s room is beginning to empty for Toronto FC and not a minute too soon.

Captain Steven Caldwell and midfielder Jonathan Osorio are the latest players to be declared fit with both expected to see action for Toronto (9-11-7) against Chivas USA (6-16-6) in a rare Sunday game at BMO Field.

Caldwell’s return is key. The 34-year-old Scottish centre back is the team’s lynchpin in defence and has been sorely missed for 13 games this season through injury or suspension, most recently with a quad muscle problem.

“As soon as he joined in training this week, he’s the loudest voice on the field,” manager Grey Vanney said of his captain. “He has everybody’s attention … And he’s an intelligent player. He’s seen anything more than once. So he’s helping to keep us in good shape, he’s recognizing good plays before they happen, he’s putting guys in the good spots.

“His leadership on the field is invaluable. We’ve clearly missed it over the last stretch of games and he’s excited to get back.”

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Midfielder Collen Warner (hamstring) and defender-midfielder Bradley Orr (toe) are not available.

Both teams have been on poor runs of late. Chivas is winless in 10 (0-9-1) while Toronto (0-4-2) is winless in six.

The poor Toronto run has seem the club tumble down the Eastern Conference standings. Points are needed to get back into playoff contention.

Chivas, meanwhile, is buried in the Western Conference basement, having given up three or more goals in its last four games.

A Vancouver win over Portland on Saturday coupled with a Toronto win Sunday and Chivas will be eliminated from playoff contention with no guarantee the team will operate next season.

“They’re in a tough spot. They’re an unpredictable opponent, to be honest, because there’s a lot of things swirling around that club,” Vanney, a former Chivas assistant coach, said of the franchise that is under league rule until a new owner steps up.

“Last time I was there, it was very similar, just a lot of things swirling around as to what’s next for Chivas. So I know what that locker-room feels like. They have a lot of guys who are uncertain as to what their future looks like … They could come out on fire, trying to prove something or they could come out and at the first sign of adversity, kind of tuck it in. We don’t know what we’re going to get.”