The Montreal Impact continue to hold their breath over Colombian defender Nelson Rivas, who has yet to train since suffering a thigh injury more than a week ago.
Rivas came up lame during the Impact's scrimmage with Mexican club Atlas on Jan. 26, part of their preseason camp in Guadalajara, Mexico. The former Inter Milan man hasn’t participated in training since, and had already sat out a number of practice drills during prior training sessions.
Impact spokesman Patrick Vallée told MLSsoccer.com on Monday that the club is still unsure how long the Colombian will be sidelined, but added that Rivas did make the trip to Southern California with the team for its second preseason camp and he’ll be assessed by team doctors there.
Vallée declined to address specifically a report by Montreal’s TVA Sports network suggesting Rivas could be out until July.
Rivas has a history of leg injuries. The veteran center back most recently suffered a calf knock last spring while on loan from Inter to Ukrainian club Dnipro. He also had to undergo surgery on a right knee injury he picked up while playing in Serie A for the Nerazzurri in 2008.
The 28-year-old's injury will be addressed publicly when the team returns to Montreal in two weeks. However, an update will be given should significant developments unfold.
“We can’t establish an earlier date,” Vallée explained, “because we want to know for sure how Rivas will respond to treatment in Los Angeles.”
In the meantime, the Impact will hold their first session on the West Coast on Tuesday. The squad’s first game against MLS opposition will take place on Wednesday against the Houston Dynamo at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
