OBETZ, Ohio – The schedule has taken its toll on the Columbus Crew, with forward Emilio Renteria ruled out of Saturday’s match at New England and defender Chad Marshall is questionable two days after being kicked in the head.
Both injuries came during Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Rentería came out at halftime with a groin injury that is not serious, but Crew coach Robert Warzycha said he will not play vs. the Revolution as a precaution.
“He didn’t pull anything,” Warzycha said. "He just said something was not right."
Marshall was at the Obetz training center Thursday but did not practice. He left the game in the 64th minute after the foot of Oribe Peralta landed on his jaw. Marshall has a history of concussions but Warzycha said he did not incur one Tuesday.
“Knowing Chad, probably he’ll be fine,” Warzycha said when asked his status for Saturday. “He needs some rest anyway. If he’s not ready to play, he’s not ready to play.”
The Crew (13-7-5) will also be without defender/midfielder Danny O'Rourke for a second straight match. He received an injection Wednesday for a bad back.
Meanwhile, midfielder Robbie Rogers is making progress from knee surgery last month but won’t be available until the San Jose match on Oct. 2 at the earliest.
Defender Gino Padula, who has not played in two months because of a left ankle sprain, could be ready for next Wednesday’s Champions League match at Municipal of Guatemala.
SCHELOTTO A GO?: Warzycha said Thursday that leading scorer Guillermo Barros Schelotto will likely play Saturday even though the game in Gillette Stadium is on artificial turf, a surface not kind to a 37-year-old forward.
Schelotto played on the fake stuff on May 1 at Seattle’s Qwest Field, site of the US Open Cup title match between the Crew and the Sounders on Oct. 5.
STAYING?: Rookie defender Shaun Francis received his first invitation to Jamaica’s full national team for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 10 but the Crew haven’t decided if they will release him.
If they do, it probably won’t be until after the Open Cup match, but the Crew also play at Chicago on Oct. 8.
“The timing is not the best,” Warzycha said. “We’ll see. It’s a friendly game and it would be nice for him to go but we have to do what’s best right now for the club.”
QUOTABLE: Goalkeeper William Hesmer said the Crew’s multi-competition schedule is tough, but it’s nothing like the Seattle to Costa Rica to Columbus, back to Seattle for a few days then off to Mexico journey for the Sounders in the past 10 days. Seattle also play Saturday at Chicago.
“It’s absurd,” Hesmer said. “You think about Seattle’s week last week. That’s insane. I don’t think any other league in the world would even contemplate that idea.”
