D.C. United are closely monitoring a pair of lingering injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Seattle Sounders (Saturday, 9 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
Both central defender Dejan Jakovic and goalkeeper Bill Hamid are nursing hamstring injuries and might not feature on Saturday.
Hamid aggravated a previous injury in a collision during last weekend’s win over Chivas USA.
“It’s still the after effects of the Chicago [injury],” assistant Chad Ashton said of Hamid. “He came down on it a little wrong in the Chivas game, so we’ve been kind of watching what he does in training. He’s done a little bit of training but hasn’t been completely [participating].”
Hamid, who originally hurt his hamstring back on August 18 in a 1-1 draw against the Fire, gutted his way through the 3-0 win last Saturday and wasn’t really tested after coming down gingerly on his right leg. Throughout the rest of the match, Brandon McDonald took the goal kicks for DC, sparing the young ‘keeper the strain.
While he’s currently listed as probable, if Hamid can’t go against the Sounders, it would mean a third start on the year for rookie Joe Willis. United’s other goalkeeper, Steve Cronin, is back in D.C. with a shoulder strain.
“Joe’s already proven he can do the job so I think we feel very comfortable if we’re putting Joe in there on Saturday if Bill can’t go,” Ashton said.
Central defender Jakovic is the other injury concern this week, also battling a hamstring injury originally picked up in August. It kept him from playing for Canada in a pair of World Cup qualifiers in early September.
Listed as questionable in the latest injury report, Jakovic traveled with the team to LA but didn’t make the 18-man game roster as he continues to improve.
“He’s doing better,” Ashton said. “He’s getting close, so there’s a decent shot he’ll be a starter next week, that sort of time frame. It’s kind of a day-by-day thing right now.”
Rookie Ethan White is likely to get a second straight start if Jakovic hasn’t recovered by Saturday.
Travis Clark covers D.C. United, College and Youth soccer for MLSsoccer.com. You can follow him on Twitter @travismclark.
