KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The revolving injury door continues to spin for Sporting Kansas City, with one player nearing return and another suddenly questionable after a training-ground injury.
Center back Aurelien Collin has trained this week ahead of Saturday night's away game against Philadelphia (7 pm ET; Stream of the Week), but the club said goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum – who recently took over the No. 1 spot heading into the postseason – is questionable after taking a knock in training on Thursday.
No other information on the injury to Gruenebaum, who missed three league starts this past summer with a shoulder strain, was immediately available.
Collin has missed three league games and one CONCACAF Champions League match with a right ankle strain.
“I twisted my ankle pretty bad,” he told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday. “I was expecting a fast recovery, but I took my time. It's most important that I can be back at 100 percent.”
Sporting have just two regular-season matches and their final CCL group-stage game to play before entering the playoffs for the fourth straight season, and Collin – the MVP of last year's MLS Cup final – is anxious to get back on the pitch.
“These last few weeks, it's very important for the team to get ready for the playoffs,” he said. “We've made it to the playoffs, and it's a good thing, but the most important thing is how we do in the playoffs. We have to be ready, 100 percent, and the coach has been clear on making sure that we all recover very well and that we're healthy and ready to go.”
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Transplanted fullback Kevin Ellis has filled in solidly for Collin on the right side of central defense in the big Frenchman's absence, and manager Peter Vermes said he'll have to take that into account even when Collin is cleared to play.
“Kevin's done really well,” Vermes said on Tuesday. “There's competition at that position. When a guy's playing well and he's in form, that's something that you have to take into consideration when you're putting together your lineup.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
