Inter Miami Notebook: Taylor unavailable, Jones returns, and more
Some news and notes ahead of the team's first game at the Carolina Challenge Cup
Robert Taylor may have just officially signed with Inter Miami on Friday, but do not expect to see him in Saturday’s preseason match.
Inter Miami is set to face off against the Columbus Crew in the first game of the 2022 Carolina Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon, and the South Florida side will do so without Taylor. The attacker is currently in Finland, and as such will miss the first match of the round-robin preseason tournament in Charleston, South Carolina.
Taylor is one of a handful of first-team players that did not travel with Inter Miami on Friday afternoon. Designated Player and central midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who the team is trying to part ways with, and Joevin Jones are among the others.
Speaking of Jones…
Jones returns to South Florida
The Trinidad and Tobago international is back in the United States. He returned to South Florida on Friday, and is still working his way back from the knee injury that he suffered while playing with Inter Miami in June 2021.
Inter Miami head coach Phil Neville had recently addressed Jones’ absence from preseason in a press conference, stating that the versatile defender was awaiting clearance to rejoin the team.
“Joevin is in the visa process,” said Neville on Feb 5. “He is in (Trinidad). He has got his visa now but you have to wait 10-14 days to receive the passport back and the family documents back. He is not fully fit yet, but he has had to go through the visa process, which has took a really long time.”
Sailor stays behind
First-round draft pick Ryan Sailor is also not currently with the team in Charleston.
Sailor, who has yet to sign a contract after being selected with the ninth overall selection in the 2022 MLS Draft, has been seen doing individual work throughout the preseason. He has not appeared in any of the Herons’ four preseason games to date.
Carolina Challenge Cup games to be streamed
If you were hoping to see how Inter Miami rounds out its preparations for the upcoming season, Friday brought some good news.
Inter Miami will be streaming all three of the exhibitions it plays at the Carolina Challenge Cup for free on its official app, though you must be within an 100-mile radius of the city of Miami to be able to watch the games on it. There will be commentary included with the feeds.
Neville’s men also take on the Charleston Battery on Tuesday at 8 pm ET before finishing the competition with a showdown against Charlotte FC on Feb. 19 at 7:30 pm ET.
Afterwards, Inter Miami will turn its full attention to the 2022 season opener at home against the Chicago Fire on Feb. 26.