FRISCO, Texas – Disaster struck for Bobby Warshaw in early May as the FC Dallas midfielder, having just started two consecutive MLS games for the first time in his career, broke his foot on nearly the last play of a Reserve League game at Sporting Kansas City.
Warshaw, selected by FC Dallas out of Stanford in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, has spent the last 10 weeks on the sidelines recuperating from the broken bone, but it looks like he is getting close to joining Ricardo Villar and David Ferreira on FCD's clean bill of health.
One of the most vocal players on the pitch, Warshaw has used his time off to refocus and attain a newfound appreciation for the game.
“You just get into the feeling that it’s a job and you get monotonous in it,” Warshaw told MLSsoccer.com. “But now that I’ve had eight weeks to watch and come to my thoughts on the whole issue, it makes you appreciate it more. I’m going to be a better player because I’ve seen more and thought more about it recently.”
While Warshaw may feel like he’s closer to returning than the trainers do, he has stepped up to doing light ball work and sprints on the sidelines.
“Stupidly, I felt like I could’ve played last week,” he said. “I feel like I could’ve been out there once the adrenaline was flowing. They’re saying David is at 65 percent. I feel like I’m somewhere around there and want to help the team, but the trainers feel like I’m a little below that.”
Hardest shot
The FCD marketing team had a radar gun out at Wednesday practice testing out a new promotion by registering the hardest shot on the FC Dallas roster. Unsurprisingly, midfielder Andrew Jacobson was the winner, clocking a speed of 81 mph.
“That one was with my left,” Jacobson said when asked the key to his hard shot. “The key is to use the right foot, but I wanted to give them a chance.”
Finals Week
Normally, the words “Finals Week” send chills down the spine of high-schoolers, but for the FC Dallas U-18 US Soccer Development Academy squad, it’s a chance at redemption after the disappointment of losing in the national championship game last season.
Having qualified through their group at the Development Academy players in Frisco two weeks ago, FC Dallas head to Houston this weekend to begin play in the final step towards a national championship. Dallas will play Chivas USA, Baltimore Bays and Solar SC with the winner from their four-team group advancing to the championship game on July 23 at BBVA Compass Stadium.
