Real Salt Lake will not be able to call upon Jamaican international playmaker Andy Williams for this weekend's home opener, as he will be lost to the team for up to a month with a groin strain.
Less than 10 minutes into Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy, Williams went down when he felt a pop in his groin. Fearing the worst the team scheduled Williams for an MRI examination yesterday.
After being checked out by team doctors the MRI was called off, but he will be out for at least four weeks while rehabilitating the injury.
With Williams no longer on the field, Real head coach John Ellinger said: "We didn't have the rhythm we have when Andy is in. Losing him is huge for us."
Ellinger has already started to lay his options as Real looks to find a new rhythm when they try to claim the club's first win this weekend at Rice-Eccles Stadium against the Colorado Rapids.
Ellinger will likely drop Clint Mathis back to the attacking midfield position he played several times in the preseason. Moving into the starting lineup will be Chris Brown on the right side of midfield, which will free up Dipsy Selolwane to move up to the forward position vacated by Mathis.
While he is tinkering with his team Ellinger is figuring to move Marlon Rojas to his natural position at left back, where Matt Behncke has struggled. Rookie Luke Kreamalmeyer could get his first starting nod at the left midfield position vacated by Rojas.
David Hale is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
