Report: Anatole Abang will miss New York Red Bulls' match against Toronto FC

If you're having trouble remembering the last time Anatole Abang played for the New York Red Bulls in MLS, it's because it was a while ago: five off-the-bench minutes in Colorado on April 16.

As it happens, that is the shortest appearance Abang has made for RBNY this season, but it seems apt that it was his most recent: his performances for the first team to date have been brief and forgettable, so it is appropriate his last performance was his briefest and most forgettable.

But Abang is in fine form for NYRB II - the club's reserve team - where he has been reliably scoring at goal-a-game pace (despite, at it happens, also playing limited minutes).

So where is he? The club hasn't really given a convincing explanation for keeping its hottest USL scorer out of the first team picture, but for the moment it doesn't need to. The Cameroon national team still seems to like what it is seeing from Abang and has called him up for its latest international games. Those matches are against France on May 30 and Mauritania on June 4.

Abang was not part of the squad that conquered Yankee Stadium last weekend. And Big Apple Soccer's Kristian Dyer was concerned about the player's absence from training this week. Where is Abang? With his national team says Jesse Marsch (and so do observers of the Cameroon training camp).

Phew. Now all we need to know is what has happened to Ronald Zubar.

As for Abang, it is to be hoped he seizes whatever opportunity he is afforded by his national team, because his stock at RBNY appears to have sunk perilously low. Back in March, when Abang received his first call-up to the Cameroon senior men's team, it merited an official club release and warm congratulations from his head coach.

Scarcely two months later, the player's burgeoning international career is only referenced when a beat reporter happens to notice Abang isn't in training. Not a good sign for his status at the club, but nothing a good performance or two at international level can't solve. Best of luck, Anatole.