MONTREAL – Getting injured during your team’s crucial stretch of the season has to figure among the most frustrating things an athlete can experience. Just ask Montreal’s Justin Mapp.
The 27-year-old had to be taken off at halftime against the New England Revolution on Aug. 12 after he felt something in his left hamstring. Not only has he not been able to play a single minute since, but he has also been forced to mostly train away from the team.
Although his replacement that night, Sanna Nyassi, scored a gorgeous goal for Montreal's third win in a row, Mapp (above, center) could not help but feel upset with his personal situation.
“Missing this last stretch of games has been tough, because we’re trying to make the playoffs and they’re all very important games,” Mapp told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday. “It is frustrating, but all I can do is try and get better and finish out this last stretch of games. It’s a definitely frustrating time, but it’s part of it.”
What makes this setback all the more annoying is that Mapp felt confident that he could come back as early as D.C. United’s first-ever visit to Montreal on Aug. 25. But it was not to be. Mapp suffered another setback in the hours before the Impact’s eventual 3-0 win over the Black-and-Red.
Some more rest for the hamstring it was, then, and Mapp has only started to pick up the pace in training this week. Testing the hamstring in the Impact’s reserve league match against United on Friday, however, might be a stretch.
“It feels good, but I’m just being cautious with this because I already had one setback with it,” Mapp said. “I’m taking it day to day, and hopefully I’ll be available for next weekend [against the Chicago Fire].”
