KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sporting Kansas City will get two starters back from US national team duty this weekend, but the availability of two more remains to be determined.
Center back Matt Besler and winger Graham Zusi both started Tuesday night's scoreless World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Estadio Azteca, with Besler going the full 90 in just his second cap. Zusi also started last Friday's 1-0 SnowClasico win over Costa Rica in Commerce City, Colo.
Both were expected to arrive back in Kansas City on Wednesday, but manager Peter Vermes said he wasn't sure whether they would be in the XI for Saturday's home match against East-leading Montreal Impact.
“Once they get back, we'll have a little chat with them,” Vermes said. “We'll see where their world is, and we'll make those decisions closer to the game.”
Left winger Bobby Convey should be available against the Impact, Vermes said, after sitting out last week's scoreless draw at the New England Revolution.
“His knee was bothering him a little bit,” said Vermes, who gave Soony Saad his first MLS start in Convey's place. “So it was just precautionary, not to put him on the turf.”
READ: Zusi, Besler plan to become indispensable for US national team
Right back Chance Myers is still questionable, as he works back from a recurring quad strain that has sidelined him for Sporting's last two matches.
“I'll have to see if he's good to go,” Vermes said. “He trained a little bit yesterday, so we'll just have to see. He trained today full, so I'll have to evaluate at the end of the week. He looks like he's OK. But he looked OK before, and then it came back. So I'll just have to see as it goes by.”
Myers strained the quad in a preseason game, then reinjured it in Sporting's 2-1 loss at Toronto FC on March 9.
“It's frustrating,” he said. “I don't want to be missing. I want to be out on the field. But it's part of the game, so you've just got to work hard to get back as quickly as you can.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
