While the FC Dallas victory against the University of Memphis in a preseason match at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday allowed head coach Steve Morrow to take a look at his charges after a couple of weeks of camp, it also allowed him to see a new -- albeit familiar -- face in Roberto Mina.
Mina, who hasn't played in almost a year after suffering a knee injury, arrived in Frisco on Saturday morning, but was in uniform for the 2-0 victory. The one-time Ecuador international played the entire second half for the Hoops, assisting on the second goal for the Hoops.
"I would say fitness wise that he's at 75-80 percent," Morrow said. "He's missed the first part of preseason and we need to do the fitness tests on him. I'm willing to keep him if he proves his fitness. If he can be the player that we all know he can be and show the talent we all know that he's got, I think he's got a great chance of making the roster."
Mina missed all of 2007 after suffering a knee injury in the preseason finale on March 31. That came after he missed half of 2006 with a similar injury on July 4.
"This is the first game that I had with the team," Mina said. "I went in with a lot of new players who I wasn't familiar with, so it takes time to get familiar with them. But I feel very good after having been out for the last eight months. Being able to come back and play for Dallas makes me feel very good."
Mina had three goals and one assist in 16 games in 2006 and in 2005, his first year with FCD, Mina had seven goals and four assists in 21 games. If he is healthy, he clearly represents a great offensive option for FCD, something he intends to prove.
"My knee feels very good," Mina said. "I spent the last month training in Argentina. Having just arrived and seeing where these guys are at, I'm obviously not at 100 percent or where these guys are. But with the preseason, I feel like I'm coming in at a good place."
Mina isn't part of the traveling roster for Wednesday's match against Mexican Primera Division side Tigres UANL because of his visa situation, but that doesn't mean his chances of making FCD are done.
"We didn't pick up his option and have been renegotiating a new contract with him," Morrow said. "We've almost come to terms on a new contract and that will be finalized when we're happy with his fitness and have done all the fitness assessments we need to do."
Mina admits that not playing for much of the last year-and-a-half was tough but it ultimately made him a stronger person and player.
"First, I want to thank God for getting me back," he said. "It was very frustrating for me to be here, watching my teammates and not being able to contribute or participate. But this is how it works and now I have an opportunity to show myself. I'm very happy to try it again."
He also acknowledges how much the FCD roster has changed since he last donned the Hoops almost a year ago.
"It's part of soccer," Mina said. "There will be people who will come and go. It could be me or it could be others. But the main thing is that when you're with a team, you need to get comfortable with each other on and off the field."
While pleased with his progress to date, Mina knows he still has more work to do to return to the high level he was at prior to his injury.
"I'm feeling good," he said. "I'm not 100 percent game fit right now but my leg feels good and my knee feels strong. I did a lot of work on it. I need to continue working hard to get my match fitness up there but right now, I feel good."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
