CARSON, Calif. – Landon Donovan made a brief appearance at LA Galaxy training on Thursday morning, and head coach Bruce Arena told reporters that the Galaxy were “planning on him playing” in Saturday's Western Conference showdown against the Seattle Sounders at the StubHub Center (10:30 pm ET, NBCSN).
Arena, who spoke to Seattle media on a conference call Thursday afternoon, gave no updates on the LA Galaxy forward's sprained left ankle nor whether he would be available this weekend when he spoke with Los Angeles-based media following the morning training session.
Donovan was long gone from the training field by the time media were granted entry, and was not available for comment.
“His situation is to be determined, I would say at this point,” Arena told reporters. “He was out a bit today.”
Donovan was hurt grappling for a ball with Luis Silva just before halftime of last weekend's draw at D.C. United, and he said after the game that Silva fell on his ankle and “it rolled.”
Arena on Tuesday said he was “confident [Donovan is] going to be available very soon.” Asked about his potential availability for the Sounders game, the Galaxy coach said: “You can interpret that any way you want.”
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Associate head coach Dave Sarachan said Thursday on MLS ExtraTime Radio that the Galaxy were “hopeful he can go” against Seattle.
“Landon is a warrior. We are taking him day by day,” Sarachan said. “He did suffer the injury against D.C. We're hopeful that he'll be available to us on Saturday.”
Defender Todd Dunivant said Thursday he thought Donovan could be ready.
“He's always a guy that you can use,” Dunivant said. “He’s a quick healer. I don't want to jinx him, but I wouldn't count him out.”
