A few quick notes from Tuesday morning’s practice at Toyota Park:
Injury
Updates
Midfielder Logan Pause (left knee sprain), who hasn’t played since the Fire’s 2-2 draw with Colorado on April 3, participated in his first full training Tuesday since sustaining the injury.
“I’m getting there,” said Pause. “This is my first time out there doing anything involving the team. I was doing fitness and running work last week but got in today. Knock on wood, hopefully it continues to progress.”
Pause said he’s unsure whether he’ll be able to play in this Saturday’s game against Chivas USA.
“I’d love to be involved [on Saturday],” said the 28-year-old Pause. “I don’t know how quickly it can be pushed ... so I just need to be smart from all ends.”
It’s not all good news for the Fire, though. Midfielder John Thorrington (left quad strain), forward Calen Carr (right quad strain) and defenders Dasan Robinson (right oblique strain) and Steven Kinney (left hamstring strain) all missed Tuesday’s training due to injury.
Carr, Kinney and Thorrington have all been out for an extended period of time with their injuries. Robinson was hurt in the match at D.C. United earlier this month and was kept out of last Saturday night’s win over Houston.
Robinson told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday that he “probably won’t be able to train this week,” all but ruling out an appearance in this Saturday’s match against Chivas USA.
With Robinson unlikely to play and fellow defender Krzysztof Krol out due to a red-card suspension, Tim Ward and Deris Umanzor will likely start at right and left back, respectively, this Saturday.
Fire bring
English midfielder in for trial
Danny Spiller, a 28-year-old central midfielder, arrived in Chicago this week to begin a week-long trial period with the Fire. Spiller, who last played for Dagenham & Redbridge of England’s fourth division, was very spirited in training, clearly putting in a lot of effort and staying after training to work on crosses.
“This is an opportunity for us to look at him,” Fire technical director Frank Klopas told MLSsoccer.com. “There are other players in mind that well be looking at too. We’re always looking to improve the team.”
