Torres Joins His New Team-mates...

Joaquin Torres, most lately of the Greek Super League club Volos managed a first run out with his new colleagues at Complexe Sportif Marie-Victorin this morning.

On loan from Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, the 24 year-old has played only three minutes of league football since the beginning of last March, but looked trim and in shape. Clearly though he needs to get up to speed with the rest of the squad, but with a concentrated pre-season scheduled that shouldn’t be too problematic.

Kiki Struna’s period of isolation ends tomorrow, so Monday should see the Slovenian international join up with the squad for the first time.

Four new lads form the Academy also had their first taste of senior squad training this morning. Mamadou Kane, Enzo Eullafroy, Jefferson Alphonse and Maxime Bourgeois were all invited along to scrimmage with the big boys....

Luis Binks didn’t end the session, sitting out halfway through with an ice-pack fastened to his left knee as a precaution.

It also emerged that Bjorn Johnsen, now departed for World Cup qualifying duty with Norway will head ‘home’ to Spain for the birth of his first child before rejoining the squad in Florida.

The squad will be keenly tuning into this evening's Olympic qualifier between Canada and El Salvador (OneSoccer.com, 1800 hrs EST) hoping colleagues, James Pantemis, Zachary Brault-Guillard, Zorhan Bassong and Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla can help propel the under-23’s towards three points and Olympic qualification.

Check out the latest, The Ball Is Round Podcast (Episode 20). Recorded Wednesday evening, the TBIR team discuss the Montreal captaincy, Henry’s recent UK TV appearance, Gilmore’s CCL comments and describe what the dawning of a new season means to each of them. Plus all the usual favourite features...and a new one... Eve’s Time Machine... Don’t miss it!

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