Sandro Schwarz said that the New York Red Bulls' Lewis Morgan was in "a good spot" after undergoing knee surgery that will rule him out of action for up to six weeks. 

It's the second time in the past three seasons that Morgan has had to miss an extended period of time due to an injury, in what is a huge blow to the Red Bulls' attack. 

Indeed, the Scotland international registered a team-high 20 goal involvements (13 goals, seven assists) last season, with only John Tolkin (62) creating more chances for the Red Bulls in the MLS than Morgan (49). 

Schwarz, however, said that Morgan was in good spirits despite his latest setback. 

"From the mental side, [he's] in a positive way, in a good spot," Schwarz said. "He's also very professional now in his rehab with the medical department with all the guys.

"I'm pretty sure in the next weeks, hopefully, he's making big steps, and then he'll be ready in six weeks for us."

Up next for the Red Bulls is a clash against Toronto FC, with Schwarz looking to return to winning ways after back-to-back draws with Orlando City and Atlanta United. 

"I would say, most of the time, we control the goals," Schwarz said. "We conceded two goals very easily, in an easy way, especially the second goal.

"But that we have to be happy at the end of this game at this point? That's, for me, not possible today, to be honest."

Toronto, meanwhile, are one of three teams in the Eastern Conference yet to register a win this season, with the Reds beaten 2-1 by the Chicago Fire last time out. 

They have also endured a difficult run against the Red Bulls in recent weeks, though head coach Robin Fraser has an impressive record against this weekend's opponents. 

During his time with the Colorado Rapids, Fraser oversaw five games against NYRB, winning three (D2) and averaging 2.20 points per match against them in the MLS, the most he has managed against a single team he has gone up against more than once in his managerial career. 

But the 58-year-old is expecting another tough test for his players, citing the atmosphere inside the Sports Illustrated Stadium as a key advantage for the Red Bulls. 

"They're tough to play against. They have a lot of energy wherever they play and they have even more energy at home," Fraser said. 

"They make it difficult for teams to play there. Over the years, you have seen lots of teams, different types of teams, go there and struggle because it's a tough place to play. 

"They have a really well-organised team, very good athletes and good footballers too. It's definitely a tough place to play, for sure."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

NYRB – Eric Choupo-Moting

Choupo-Moting continues to prove that age is just a number, scoring his first career MLS goal since arriving in New York, aged 35 years, 357 days old.

The only player in Red Bulls history to score his first career MLS goal at an older age was Youri Djorkaeff (37 years, 79 days) in 2005.

Toronto – Federico Bernardeschi

Bernardeschi set up Deandre Kerr's header for Toronto in their last MLS fixture. Six of the Italian's 11 primary assists in MLS have set up headed goals.

He produced a team-high eight crosses for Toronto against Chicago, but did lose possession 16 times in that game, more than any of his team-mates.  

MATCH PREDICTION: NYRB WIN

The Red Bulls are unbeaten in 11 straight regular-season meetings with Toronto (W8 D3), with this weekend's visitors' last win over New York coming in 2019. NYRB have only one longer regular-season unbeaten streak against a single opponent, which came against Atlanta United from 2017 to 2022 (12).

But following their draw with Orlando, the Red Bulls have won only one of their 10 home matches in all competitions (D6 L3) since the beginning of the Leagues Cup last year.

Toronto, meanwhile, are winless in their last 10 matches in all competitions dating back to last September (D3 L7). The Reds took a 1-0 lead before losing, 2-1, to Chicago, one of only two matches in that span in which they led, also doing so against Chicago in September. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

NYRB – 65.4%

Draw – 18.7%

Toronto – 15.9%