FC Dallas have had a busy opening to the 2007 MLS season. Besides playing six games, two more than any other club thus far, the Hoops have also racked up their share of injuries. So two weeks off before their next game on May 12 at Kansas City couldn't come at a better time for the FCD.
At Tuesday's training, eight players were missing. Two of those, goalkeeper Ray Burse and midfielder Pablo Ricchetti were excused and out of town while the rest were doing some sort of rehab work.
Burse is completing his degree work at Ohio State and has made arrangements with one of his professors to return to Columbus on prearranged Tuesdays until he completes a degree in American History, which is set to be finished this summer.
Ricchetti and FCD have agreed in principle to a contract but the Argentinean midfielder is in his native country getting his visa affixed to his passport and will return later in the week. Once he returns to Frisco, a roster move will be made and Ricchetti will be officially added to the squad.
On the injury list, two players at the top are Ecuadorian forward Roberto Mina and Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Saragosa. The two were doing side work during Monday's training with FCD assistant trainer Robby Cox, definitely an encouraging sign.
"They're two of the guys that we're talking about (wanting to get back)," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow. "We have to get it right with those two. Marcelo (Saragosa) is coming back a little bit quicker than we thought. We have to make sure we're doing the right thing by him.
"Roberto (Mina) is also making good progress," Morrow continued. "We need to get them back into practice this week by getting them involved in warmups. Hopefully by the start of next week, we can get them back involved in full practice."
Saragosa started the first two games of 2007 in the central midfield for FCD before going down in the 25th minute of a 2-1 win against the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on April 12. An MRI on his right knee confirmed he had a strained MCL, which shelved him for between four and six weeks.
On the other hand, Mina's ailment is a bit more long-term. The Ecuadorian striker saw his last regular season action with FCD in a 1-0 loss to D.C. United on July 4, 2006. Just three days later, his team learned that he had suffered a torn medial meniscus in his left knee and, despite playing in seven of 11 preseason games this year, Mina has yet to return to the field in the regular season.
Absent from the back four in each of the last two games has been Alex Yi, who started four consecutive matches at center back. Yi left the second half of the loss to New York after suffering a calf injury and was unavailable for Sunday's 1-0 defeat to New England.
"He (Yi) is doing well," Morrow said. "I think it's one of those things where he's been playing and we're not too bothered by his fitness. We need to make sure that his calf injury clears up because he's been playing with it for a few weeks and it eventually got worse. I think we'll take this week to make sure he gets better and get him back into training next week."
Left back David Wagenfuhr remains sidelined after suffering a concussion in the first half the loss to the Red Bulls at Giants Stadium on April 15. His status continues to be evaluated.
As well, right back Drew Moor was absent on Monday, resting a bruised heel that he has had since the most recent game against the Red Bulls. His injury isn't considered serious.
Adrian Serioux, acquired from FC Toronto last November, also continues to recover from knee surgery he had in February. He was originally expected to be out for between four and six months but could be progressing ahead of schedule.
"I'm very encouraged (about Serioux's progress)," said Morrow. "He wants to push himself on, but we're listening to the doctors about him. He has a program set out for the next six weeks or so. He's itching and wants to get going. He wants to start jogging and get a few touches on the ball and get back into things. It was a pretty major surgery that he had done, so we want to make sure we do the right thing."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
