Nashville’s Shaffelburg looks forward to reunion with former Toronto FC teammates

Jacob Shaffelburg reduce his tooth with Toronto FC. But the Canadian winger has discovered a house in Nashville.

The 23-year-old from Port William, N.S., joined Toronto as a homegrown participant in June 2019 and went on to make 61 appearances in all competitions.

“The child can run all day and he’s extremely quick,” then-TFC coach Greg Vanney mentioned after Shaffelburg’s first begin.

But occupying the identical place as Italian star Lorenzo Insigne, Shaffelburg discovered enjoying time onerous to get final 12 months. Toronto loaned him to Nashville SC in early August with the groups making the transfer everlasting in mid-November.

Shaffelburg began the primary 5 video games this season, scoring twice, earlier than shifting to the bench final weekend for Nashville’s 2-0 win in Orlando.

Shaffelburg will get an opportunity to resume acquaintances together with his former teammates when Toronto (1-1-4) visits GEODIS Park on Saturday.

“A wonderful signing for us,” mentioned Nashville coach Gary Smith.

“He’s found a good home here,” he added. “His athleticism, his pace has given us a very different edge … a completely different dimension.”

Shaffelburg, a pacey winger who likes to run at defenders, has 4 objectives in 13 regular-season outings with Nashville. He had three in 47 league video games with Toronto. 

Toronto is ninth within the Eastern Conference, unbeaten in 5 video games (1-0-4) since coughing up two late objectives in a painful season-opening 3-2 loss at D.C. United.

While TFC has posted two shutouts and given up solely 4 objectives in that five-game stretch, the sensation is wins and factors have been left on the desk. Most not too long ago, Toronto squandered a 2-0 lead and needed to accept a 2-2 draw with visiting Charlotte.

Nashville (3-2-1) stands fifth within the Eastern Conference. It prevented defeat in its first three outings of the season, going 2-0-1 with out conceding a aim, earlier than struggling back-to-back 1-0 losses to New England and Cincinnati forward of the win in Orlando.

Shaffelburg says the transfer to Nashville has labored out effectively on the sphere and off.

“It’s been a really smooth transition. Everyone at the club has been super easy … People are super-nice here. My wife and I always say they remind us of people back in Nova Scotia, how welcoming they are.”

Shaffelburg says going through his previous staff is thrilling however nerve-racking. Out of respect for TFC, he says he received’t have fun if he manages to attain Saturday.

Toronto tried Shaffelburg at fullback early final season “but he never really got comfortable (there),” acknowledged Toronto coach Bob Bradley. Some harm issues didn’t assist both.

“He probably needed a change and he fits well with what they (Nashville) do as a team,” Bradley added. “His best qualities are still when he’s got some freedom on the left to be on the move and running and getting in some crosses. In those ways, he’s done well.”

Shaffelburg joined the TFC academy in 2016, however had restricted time there as a result of he was attending the Berkshire School in Massachusetts, whose soccer alumni consists of former New York City FC midfielder Jack Harrison and former TFC ahead Ifunanyachi Achara.

He signed a USL contract in November 2018 forward of the Toronto FC 2 season, earlier than becoming a member of the primary staff.

Nashville is a full of life place to go to, rating fourth in league attendance at 27,487. TFC will discover the league’s stingiest defence ready there.

Nashville has 4 shutouts in six matches this season and has given up simply two objectives, the fewest within the league. Only Sporting Kansas City (2012) and Columbus (2020), every with one aim allowed, conceded fewer at this stage of a season.

Nashville has but to concede a aim within the first half this season and has gone 31 video games with out shedding when scoring first in a match, a streak that dates again to August 2021.

At the opposite finish of the sphere, Nashville ranks nineteenth on offence. German attacking midfielder Hany Mukhtar continues to drag the strings and, with one aim and three assists, the 2022 league MVP has been concerned in 4 of Nashville’s six objectives this season.

Mukhtar, who has 44 objectives and 30 assists in 4 seasons with the membership, has been concerned in additional than half of Nashville’s all-time regular-season objectives (74 of 137).

In the absence of the injured Insigne, fellow Italian Federico Bernardeschi has carried a lot of the offensive load for Toronto this season. The 29-year-old, who mans the correct flank, has now been concerned in 10 of Toronto’s final 17 MLS objectives (seven objectives, three assists), courting again to Aug. 27, 2022.

He scored a uncommon “Olimpico,” a aim direct from a nook kick, towards Charlotte final Saturday.

Toronto will probably be with out Insigne for the sixth sport in a row. The Italian has not performed since hobbling off within the thirty fourth minute of the Feb. 25 season-opener with a groin drawback.

Norwegian striker Adama Diomande (hamstring) can also be out, whereas fullback Cristian Gutierrez stays sidelined with a non-COVID sickness.

Captain Michael Bradley will make his 298th look for Toronto in all competitions, second solely to Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who will step on the sphere for the 324th time in TFC colors. 

Nashville will probably be with out Costa Rican worldwide defender Randall Leal (decrease physique). Defender Nick DePuy is out for the season after surgical procedure final month surgical procedure on an Achilles harm.

The Nashville roster additionally consists of veteran ahead Teal Bunbury, the son of former Canadian worldwide Alex Bunbury. While born in Hamilton, Teal Bunbury is a twin citizen and has represented the U.S. internationally.