GUADALAJARA, Mexico – After an operation on his left foot sidelined him for eight weeks, US national team midfielder José Francisco Torres is champing at the bit to return to the field.
“On Friday, I'm getting an X-Ray to see how my foot is doing and, if it's good, on Monday I start running and moving around with the ball a little bit,” the 24-year-old Texan told MLSsoccer.com on the phone from Pachuca on Tuesday.
The 2010 World Cup veteran believes he could make an appearance in the second leg of Pachuca's playoff clash against Tigres UANL on Nov. 27.
“I'll be training twice a day, so if I'm feeling better running and everything and the coaches see me, I'll probably be back against Tigres the second game,” explained “el Gringo.”
The Longview, Texas, native earned a regular spot in the Pachuca midfield and was called up for three US national team matches under Jurgen Klinsmann before suffering a stress fracture on the fifth metatarsal of his left foot.
“It's been difficult because I was starting to feel good with Pachuca and with the national team,” he said. “I felt better and I think I was just picking up my game again and I get hurt. But it's part of soccer and part of life.”
It's been hard for Torres to watch the recent national team games live because of training duties with Pachuca, but he was impressed with the second half display against France on Friday.
“I think we did a great job,” Torres said. “The USA could've won. Klinsmann did a great job and I'm ready to get back on the national team again.”
For now though, Torres is focused on getting back into the Pachuca fold for the final stages of Mexico´s Apertura 2011.
Tom Marshall can be reached via tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
