Jermain Defoe 'looking ready to go' for Toronto FC's game against Galaxy

Toronto FC's push for the playoffs is set to get a boost as Jermain Defoe is ready to return to the field for TFC's game Saturday night against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

“[Defoe] will be with us on the weekend and we’ll see how much time we can get him ultimately,” said head coach Greg Vanney. “He’s looking ready to go. I don’t know exactly the number of minutes [he’ll play], we’ll see again as we go into the weekend. He’s recovering well from day-to-day.”

Defoe, who has 11 goals in 16 games this year, hasn't played since August 23, which was Ryan Nelsen's second-to-last game in charge of the club before he was fired. Defoe was subbed off late in the second half of that game, a 2-2 draw with Chicago, after reaggravating the same groin injury that had kept him out earlier in the month.

With their star striker sidelined, TFC lost their next three games and failed to score in all of them. They've bounced back in recent weeks, having won their last two and scoring three goals in each of those games.

The Reds enter the weekend sixth in the Eastern Conference with 40 points, one point behind the fifth-place New York Red Bulls and three back of the fourth-place Columbus Crew. Toronto has five games left to play while New York and Columbus only have four to go.

More MLS coverage on Yahoo Sports: