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Shortly before their home game against the Montreal Impact a few weeks ago, New York City FC announced that one of their players had tested positive for COVID-19. Due to the team’s other tests coming back negative, the game went on as scheduled as City won 3-1 in the contest.
Because of legal reasons, NYCFC were not allowed to disclose the name of the player that tested positive for the coronavirus. But Ismael Tajouri-Shradi’s name being omitted from the team sheet when he was not listed on the club’s injury report was telling. The next day, ITS confirmed that he had contracted the virus and was looking forward to getting back to action once he was allowed to do so.
Yesterday, Glenn Crooks reported that manager Ronny Deila had confirmed that Tajouri-Shradi would be available for NYCFC’s Decision Day match against the Chicago Fire.
Ronny Deila told me that Ismael Tajouri-Shradi will be available tomorrow for #NYCFC on #DecisionDay against #CFFC.
— Glenn Crooks (@GlennCrooks) November 7, 2020
Shradi trained 1 day on his own & just 1 day w/ the full team following a quarantine period after testing positive for #COVID19. #CHIvNYC #MLS #MLSCupPlayoffs
Deila has confirmed that Tajouri-Shradi trained on his own for one day before joining the team for full training the following day.
Having ITS back in the fold will be clutch for the Boys in Blue as they’ve lacked depth in the attack for the last few weeks. The timing of his return right before Decision Day and the MLS Cup Playoffs is makes it even better.