Before he was officially named FC Dallas head coach last December, one of the first moves that Steve Morrow made was trading all-star midfielder Ronnie O'Brien to expansion side Toronto FC. In return, the Hoops got a first-round pick in the 2008 MLS Super Draft but the clincher was also acquiring Adrian Serioux, a key member of Houston's 2006 MLS Cup championship team.
However, in mid-February, FCD learned that Serioux had a bruise on his left femur that hadn't fully healed and needed knee surgery to correct the problem. After the operation, it was estimated that the 28-year-old Canadian international would miss between four and six months for the Hoops. Now, it looks like Serioux could make his return closer to four instead of six months.
On Wednesday, he was on the training field doing some light work away from the main group, a regimen that included kicking the ball a few times. It was definitely a good sign for him and FCD, who will need him healthy in the summer months to help bolster their back line, especially at the center back spot.
"He is doing well," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow. "He's been doing a lot of aqua jogging in the pool. We've pushed that hard and that is part of the process in coming back. If we can get him jogging in the pool and really step up the intensity with that, then the next step is to get him on the field."
The FCD boss was quick not to assign a timetable for Serioux's return but admits that he has been encouraged by his progress thus far.
"It's a matter of taking it day-to-day and week-to-week and seeing how he reacts to everything," Morrow said. "If he's feeling good, then he'll push himself harder and we'll push him as well. We don't want to put him under pressure by putting a timeline on it.
"It's really going to be a matter of how the pain is in his knee. Knowing the type of guy that he is, he'll want to push on and want to get back. I know that he'll be able to fight through a certain amount of pain as well without that being detrimental."
When FCD acquired Serioux, the Hoops did so to bring some much-needed toughness to their back line. That unit has performed pretty well this year but when Serioux returns, that likely means that either Clarence Goodson or Alex Yi will be displaced by him in the starting 11. When exactly that will happen is a big question.
"So far, it seems like I am right on schedule, if maybe a week early," he said. "It feels good. There were some days where it was a struggle but it's coming along now. Most of the pain is gone. I will keep my fingers crossed that everything holds up and that there are no setbacks from here on in."
Except for the time he spent training with the Canadian national team earlier this year before reporting to FCD, Serioux's last action on the pitch was on Nov. 12, 2006 when he started last fall's MLS Cup for Dynamo in central midfield, filling in for a suspended Ricardo Clark. The long layoff is clearly getting to him.
"It's driving me crazy, to tell you the honest truth," Serioux said. "You just have to be strong. That's the biggest thing for me right now because there are going to be days where you get frustrated with how things are going. You just have to realize that you will be back sometime. Earlier would be nicer, but as long as everything is properly set, I am good to go and at 100 percent, I can't worry about anything else."
One game that Serioux will not be back for is the matchup with his former club in Houston on June 3.
"That's probably going to be the toughest thing right there (missing that match)," he said. "My plan was to be back by then, especially to play in Houston. I will still be there supporting our team and hopefully they can pull out a win. We have a few games against them. So, hopefully I will be around for the next match."
The two sides will renew their rivalry on June 30 in Frisco, and if all goes according to plan, Serioux could be ready for that match.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
