T&T international Kevin Molino will be in a race against time to be fit for this country’s next two crucial Qatar World Cup Concacaf Qualifiers against the Bahamas and St Kitts and Nevis in early June.
This after it was confirmed by Molino’s new US Major League Soccer club (MLS), Columbus Crew SC on Monday that the Carenage-born Molino will miss the next six to eight weeks of action due to injury.
The 30-year-old Molino who has already missed T&T first two World Cup qualifiers, a 3-0 win over Guyana and a 1-1 draw with Puerto Rico due to a hamstring injury last month featured for his new club Columbus Crew in a pre-season friendly on April 1 for 57 minutes before he was replaced by Luis Diaz in the 4-2 win over Toronto FC.
However, since then Molino has not featured for the club and missed their round-of-16 first-leg thrashing of Nicaraguan club Real Esteli 4-0 on April 8 at Estadio Nacional de Futbol in Managua. The second leg is carded for Thursday at Historic Crew from 8 pm.
Following Thursday’s contest, the Crew, the reigning US MLS champions begin the 2021 regular season at home on Sunday against the Philadelphia Union from 5.30 pm.
But Molino, a six-year MLS veteran, who was signed by Crew SC on January 7, 2021, joining from Minnesota United FC where he spent four seasons will not be suiting up for his new club anytime soon.
This after the Crew stated on Monday that after additional evaluation, Molino is expected to be sidelined for approximately six to eight weeks due to a recurring hamstring injury.
To date, the forward has made 104 MLS regular-season appearances (91 starts), scoring 32 goals and registering 27 assists.
Having led Minnesota United to a first-ever Conference Final last season, before they fell to Seattle Sounders, some of Molino’s new teammates are hoping he can be a key player in a bid to repeat as champions.
Before picking up the hamstring injury, Molino made his Crew debut in a preseason friendly against Orlando City SC, and the early signs for a good start with his new club were strong.
“When you see some of the things he does in training, it’s a different level," head coach Caleb Porter told media on a virtual press conference. "Some of the ideas, the stuff he pulls off. Once we get him fit and sharp, he’s just got a little different individual creativity. The combination with him, Lucas [Zelarayan] and Pedro [Santos] has been fun.”
Molino enjoyed one of the best years of his career in 2020, with nine goals and four assists in 18 appearances (15 starts) then another four goals in three playoff games.
The T&T international has 32 goals and 27 assists in 104 career MLS matches and was twice named United Soccer League PRO “Most Valuable Player” before making his MLS debut.
He was a sought-after free agent, and Minnesota didn't want to see him leave, but Molino is excited about his future.
“Just watching the way how Columbus played was really exciting," Molino said. "It was an easy choice for me to come over.”
Molino adds to an already deep and talented attacking core, led by MLS Cup MVP Zelarayan and Santos, as well as Gyasi Zardes.
A former MA Pau FC and East Mucurapo Secondary stand-out on home-soil Molino is expected to start at left-wing amid that quartet when he's fit and the club is at full strength.
“He’s a very creative player," Porter said. "He brings a little bit different of a profile. He can unbalance teams off the dribble, plays a lot of combinations and one-twos. He’s a really good final-third player, very clever. I’ve seen a lot of nice interplay with him, Gyasi, Lucas and Pedro. We just have to give that time to gel.”