Kansas City Wizards striker Josh Wolff returned to training Tuesday after a two-week layoff that allowed his inflamed right knee to rest.
Wolff last played on July 24 in the Wizards' 2-2 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy, missing the last game before the All-Star break against the MetroStars and the U.S. Open Cup victory after it -- along with the MLS All-Star Game to which he was selected.
But after two weeks of analysis on his irritated right knee and a lot of watching and waiting, Wolff has returned to the training field.
"[I feel] pretty good. [I] didn't do much for two weeks [waiting for] whatever it was to calm down," the Wizards' dynamic goal scorer said Tuesday.
Wolff's knee has gone through the usual series of tests and has sufficiently recovered to the point that he moved well in a prolonged scrimmage.
"It's gotten a lot better. A week ago I wasn't even in a position to really train," he said. "So it's better now. [We'll] see what happens for the weekend."
Lubricating injections have helped soothe the knee of the dangerous striker, whose presence would give the visiting San Jose Earthquakes more to worry about when they come in Saturday to try and gain ground on the second-place Wizards in the Western Conference.
"I still feel some stuff in there," Wolff said. "It's just like a maintenance part of it. I've had some surgeries on that knee, so [the injections] keep it rolling pretty smooth. It's just kind of like an oil or a natural fluid from the body."
Only time will tell if Wolff's knee is ready to deal with determined defenders and the inconsistent playing conditions he traverses on a daily basis, but the Georgia native knows he will likely not be a part of the U.S. national team squad that will meet next week to train for its upcoming World Cup qualifier against Jamaica.
As a matter of fact, Wolff will still be playing the waiting game.
"[I'm] not sure where I'll be at after this weekend, how it will recover if I do play," he said.
Robert Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
