After missing the last four matches, FCD captain Duilio Davino could return for the MLS Primetime Thursday matchup with the Colorado Rapids. But there is no question the Hoops backline needs the one-time Mexican international lineup.
In training before the Toronto FC match at the start of August, Davino sustained an avulsion fracture on the big toe of his left foot. He made his return to the training field on Tuesday, and the timing could not be better.
With Adrian Serioux, who has been the starting right back for the last three games, away with the Canadian national team, it means that Drew Moor, will likely move from central defense back to the right flank. That means Davino could be called upon to play in the middle next to Aaron Pitchkolan.
"I feel good," Davino said. "Obviously after a month, it takes a little bit to get used to the timing again and the rhythm of play but I feel good. It's hard to think of a percentage. But I'm probably at about 80 percent right now."
Before his injury, Davino was one of only two FCD players to play in every match as he had started each of his side's first 18 matches. Hoops head coach Schellas Hyndman was certainly pleased with Davino's return to the practice field.
"I think our defense has done a good job considering we've lost one of our most experienced defenders, the captain of the team and a solid defender. You've also seen without him that we've given up goals against Columbus and people are running free plus two goals up there," Hyndman said. "Having him back on the field will help us. It's an area that we need to make better, our defense this year, next year and in the future. It's great to have him out there kicking around a little bit again."
In FCD's first game without Davino, that August 3 match at TFC, they prevailed 2-0, keeping a clean sheet for a second consecutive week. However, since then, they have allowed two goals in a loss at Columbus, one in a draw at Kansas City and most recently, a pair of tallies in the return match with the Crew at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday night.
For Hyndman, it's easy to see that the FCD backline has clearly missed Davino's leadership and organizational skills.
"I think that's what Duilio brings is the great experience, the leadership capabilities and the organization," Hyndman said. "When you teach coaching courses, you say, what do you look for from a sweeper or a center back? That's one of the first things you put in there, is organization and communication and I don't think that we've had that because we've been moving people around. Today, we were working with it a little bit and I thought it looked better."
One added bonus for Davino's return is that on Sunday, FCD will face his former side, Mexican power Club America, in a friendly at Pizza Hut Park. But he won't begin thinking about facing his former teammates until after the league game has come and gone.
"The most important game is Colorado because it's for three points," Davino said. "The other one is a friendly. We will see if I can play on Thursday but I at least I know that for Sunday, I should be able to get in there to get some rhythm back and timing."
Davino admits that being forced to watch his team as a spectator for the past month has been tough.
"It's always difficult and bad because you can't help your team from the outside," he said. "But those are things that go with football. All you can do is get ready to get back as fast as you can."
And even though the Hoops have been up and down all year, Davino feels that FCD could do very well against the Rapids provided they enter the match with the right mindset.
"We think that we can beat anybody," he said. "The thing is that we've been very irregular. We've got to have the right mentality, treat them as the best team in the league to come out with that mentality and get the best result."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
