By Ridge Mahoney
Senior Editor
According to a source with knowledge of the transaction, Toronto FC has filled its hole on the left side of midfield.
The team will soon announce the acquisition of winger Andy Welsh, a native of Manchester who played this season at Leicester City on loan from Sunderland. Welsh, 22, is a discovery player and will not count against the limit of four senior internationals per team.
He played 25 games for Sunderland after joining the club from Stockport County in November 2004, but lost his place when former Irish international Roy Keane took over as manager last year. His loan with Leicester ended in January.
Without disclosing the player's identity, Toronto coach Mo Johnston said of Welsh, ''I'm real excited to have him. He's a good young player who I think will open a lot of people's eyes.''
In his English League career with four clubs, Welsh has scored seven goals in 119 appearances. This season he played eight league and cup games with Leicester before returning to Sunderland.
He joins Welsh international Carl Robinson, Irishman Ronnie O'Brien, Brazilian Paulo Nagamura, New Zealander Andrew Boyens, Uruguayan Jose Cancela and more than a dozen North Americans on a roster that more and more resembles the cosmopolitan city it represents.