With a rigorous schedule wrapping up the end of the 2017 USL regular season, Louisville City FC head coach, James O’Connor, was left with no other option than to rotate his players during this week’s three-game road trip – some ofwhom are still recovering from injury.
Former Tottenham Hotspur forward, Cameron Lancaster, was sidelined earlier in the month with a fractured toe and has spent several weeks battling through pain, helping his team on the pitch when needed.
“He’s still playing with a toe that hasn’t actually healed, so he’s still playing with a fractured toe,” said coach O’Connor. “That shows you what type of lad he is.”
Lancaster signed with Louisville City FC before its inaugural season, impressing in the club’s first ever match after scoring the game-winner against Indiana University.
Unfortunately, no more than two weeks later, the Englishman suffered a torn ACL requiring a ligament replacement and a season’s worth of rehabilitation.
Two years after cutting his 2015 campaign short, another nagging injury has Lancaster approaching games with caution – though this one won’t hold him back from helping his team get results.
“He’s a big physical guy up there. I think we needed to do a better job tonight trying to find him the ball and then playing it off of him,” said midfielder Brian Ownby on his teammate following the 1-0 loss to Toronto FC II on Wednesday.
Tied for second on the roster with six goals this season, Lancaster and fellow LouCity forwards Luke Spencer and Ilija Ilic have combined for 19 total goals heading into Saturday’s match against Rochester.
Lancaster’s return to the starting lineup was the first since late-July in a 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls II but has since made appearances in nearly each game.
“It’s always great to have Cam (Cameron Lancaster) back,” added Ownby. “We have three sharp forwards up there so whoever we put in, we always have faith that they can do the job.”
