Teemu Tainio's career is expected to continue on after his knee injury was downgraded from an anterio cruciate ligament (ACL) to a medial collateral ligament (MCL).

New York Red Bull feared that the Finnish midfielder, formerly of Tottenham, Sunderland, Birmingham City and Ajax, could be finished if he was to undergo surgery straight away.

But head coach Hans Backe has indicated to the NY Post that he expects Tainio to play again after returning to the gym for rehab.

"He has started today doing some kind of training sessions in the gym. I think you have to see how he responds with that kind of training," said Backe.

"It's been different diagnosis from ACL to MCL, so I don't know what to say. But it's either of those. It's too complicated for me."

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