For Jan Gunnar Solli, this has the potential to be a huge week.
On Monday, the Norwegian international was back on the field with the team for the first time since injuring his right quadriceps in a 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake on Aug. 6. Solli had spent the last two weeks doing conditioning work to prepare for his return, which may come Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
“I’m feeling good,” Solli told MLSsoccer.com on Monday. “First session today. I was in every day [with] fitness work. I was getting some good work in. There was no hesitation today. It was a good tempo; I managed to keep up. No issues.”
Solli’s return to health comes not a moment too soon for New York, who are embroiled in a fight for a playoff berth. But, if he’s healthy enough to return, Solli might do so in a different role. The Red Bulls have another option at right back in Chris Albright, but Teemu Tainio’s red-card suspension leaves the Red Bulls with a hole to fill in the center of the park.
“Every time I get myself ready for a game, it is for 90 minutes,” Solli said. “Probably looks like they’ll be using me in the midfield on this one.”
If Solli does move to the midfield against Vancouver, it will be his first time playing in that role since coming to New York in January.
D.J. Solli
With the time off over the past week, Solli has been able to work on one of his pet projects. On Monday morning, “D.J. Solli” released his new single, “Exclusive Dynasty,” on Beatsport.com. The commercial house tune takes the theme song from the 1980s soap-drama Dynasty and gives it a new twist, complete with a violin solo.
The song, which runs for just under three minutes, has already debuted on Norwegian radio.
“There will be an extended version coming out later, I just wanted to get this out now for the radio,” Solli said. “I wanted people to know that I could build a track like that. I’m very proud of it.”
Kristian R. Dyer can be followed at twitter.com/KristianRDyer
