Jozy Altidore has injured his hamstring and is questionable for Toronto FC's season opener versus the New York Red Bulls, according to Greg Vanney in a Tweet from the club's official site.
Altidore, 26, has had a long history with hamstring injuries, including one sustained in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup and again last summer during the Gold Cup.
Vanney: Jozy Altidore (hamstring) questionable for opening week vs. #RBNY #TFCLive
- Toronto FC (@torontofc) February 24, 2016
It's bad news for the United States international, who had put in extra training and conditioning and lost weight ahead of the upcoming MLS and World Cup qualifying campaign with the express desire of staying injury free.
Besides the March 6 opener with the Red Bulls, Altidore could also be in jeopardy of missing one or both of the World Cup qualifiers the U.S. play vs. Guatemala on March 26 and 29.
That will likely come as bad news to U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann after Altidore, who scored goals in both of his team's pre-season friendlies, was expected to feature up front for the Americans.
The striker showed up to the team's annual January camp one week earlier and more than 10 pounds lighter to get a head start on surviving the long soccer season intact.
"When I look at the past years, the opportunities that I've missed for the national team, they hurt me," Altidore said. "I feel like I always miss the big tournament."