BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos revealed on Tuesday that right back Tim Ward, who suffered a left calf strain in last Tuesday’s training session, will be out for the next two to three weeks.
“Ward has a severe injury in his calf muscle,” de los Cobos said. “He took a MRI and the doctors looked at [and said it is a] severe injury. It’s a shame because Timmy was improving, but now I think that it’ll be two or three weeks more before he’s back ready.”
Ward had started six of seven games this season before missing last Saturday’s game at Kansas City. Dasan Robinson replaced Ward at right back against the Wizards, and will likely continue to start in the 23-year-old Ward’s absence.
Midfielder Justin Mapp, who missed the last two matches with a left hamstring strain, will be available to play on Wednesday night in the Chicago Sister Cities International Cup opener against Paris Saint-Germain.
“Justin is better,” de los Cobos said. “Maybe [he’ll] play Wednesday in the second half. I want to recover this guy because he’s a good player but the last week he’s been training better and now he’s ready. He practiced today with full training and he feels very good.”
Midfielder John Thorrington (left quad strain) and forward Calen Carr (right quad strain) will also miss this week’s game. Neither has played this season.
Sam Stejskal covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com. He can be reached at sam.h.stejskal@gmail.com.
