FC Dallas knew the status of their newest player, World Cup winner Denilson, would be uncertain heading into Saturday's home match against D.C. United. But while they had hoped for better news, the status of one of their best players over the season is also an unknown.
All-star midfielder Juan Toja suffered a high ankle sprain in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against Charleston on August 7, and has not been in the team since. FCD last played on August 19, when they lost 1-0 at Houston and the Hoops have used that time off to bring several starters back to full health.
Toja returned to training on Wednesday evening and was at full speed on Thursday, but right now, his status remains uncertain for Saturday's match.
"I think he's questionable right now," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow. "[Thursday] was his first full session. He played probably at half speed last night and we want to see how he does between today and tomorrow."
Even if Toja isn't in the starting 11 on Saturday, Morrow could definitely see him coming off the bench against United.
"He'll definitely be involved in the game some way," Morrow said. "It's just a question about whether he starts or starts off on the bench. We'll make that decision on Saturday."
"I feel better but don't know if I can play this weekend," Toja said after training on Thursday. "Of course, I want to play but don't feel at 100 percent yet. I have to wait until tomorrow and Saturday and see how I feel then."
In a July 17 match against United at RFK Stadium, FCD fell behind 3-0 but stormed back on the strength of two goals from Toja to leave the nation's capital with a 3-3 draw. He has started 19 games this year, leads the Hoops with six goals and was their lone representative in the 2007 MLS All-Star Game in July.
While Toja is questionable for Saturday, FCD could see the return of goalkeeper Dario Sala for the first time since a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy in SuperLiga on July 31.
A knee injury flared up later that week and second-year 'keeper Ray Burse filled in well during Sala's absence, with a 1.00 goals-against-average and one shutout in his first three career league starts as FCD won two of three games.
"He (Sala) has told me he's at 100 percent and that's all I need to hear from him," Morrow said. "He's back in contention again. Dario has got to understand that Ray (Burse) is good competition now and that he has to fight for his spot like everyone else."
Before his injury, Sala had started 12 games with four clean sheets while allowing an average of 1.25 goals per game.
"Steve (Morrow) asked me today if I felt 100 percent and I told him that I was ready to go," Sala said. "He will just have to pick me to start. That's how it will be for me coming back to get my job back at my position. I want to have the same performance or better than I was earlier in the season.
"I have been doing better than last year and this would be a great game to come back in. They're very good on the counterattack and at sending through balls. I think it will be a pretty tough game."
But this is not the first comeback of the year for the Argentinian 'keeper. He also missed FCD's first six matches of 2007 serving a suspension for an on-field altercation in a season-ending loss to Colorado in the MLS playoffs last November.
"I think it's been almost a month (since I last played)," Sala said. "This is my second comeback of the year. My first one was after five months off. We had three months off after last season and then I missed the first two months with a suspension. I came back pretty well against Kansas City and this time, I have only missed four games."
Defensive midfielder Marcelo Saragosa also missed training on Thursday but Morrow termed his absence as not serious.
"He's had a little problem with his knee off and on and is resting it today," Morrow said. "It is the same knee he has had problems with this year."
As well, striker Kenny Cooper, who has been out since June 9 with a broken right tibia, remains about two weeks out from returning to full training.
"He's still in the jogging phase at the moment and we need to continue that for a few more days," Morrow said. "Then, he needs to get more into twisting, turning, cutting and doing more with the ball before he's back in training again."
The Hoops are also close to finalizing terms of the retirement of goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who has suffered from a back injury for much of the 2007 season. His retirement will leave a free spot on the senior roster which would likely be filled by Burse since the league requires each club to carry two 'keepers on their senior roster.
"It's been agreed but there are one or two little issues left," Morrow said. "It's in the hands of the league at the moment and hopefully, we will be able to finalize that today or tomorrow."
As for Denilson, the club is still waiting for approval of his work visa, but Morrow wasn't ready to rule his newest addition out for Saturday. But the FCD boss did admit that if they don't get approval Friday, Denilson's status for next week's Open Cup semifinal at Seattle could also be sketchy.
"I think there's still a chance (of him playing this weekend) -- I really do," Morrow said. "You never know until you get a call on these things. You can't call and get an update on these things. If we didn't get it on Friday, then we could get it on Monday. But we're flying to Seattle on Sunday and we're not going to know until Monday if we don't get it tomorrow."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
