BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – There's good news and bad news on Chicago Fire midfielder Pável Pardo.
The former Mexican international practiced with the team on Thursday for the first time since suffering a calf injury that has kept him out for five games. But he won’t play on Saturday at New England (7:30 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
“He was better,” Fire head coach Frank Klopas told reporters. “It was his first day playing, and hopefully he can continue to progress so he can be 100 percent with the team next week.”
Klopas hopes the 36-year-old will be ready for the Fire’s final game of the regular season on Oct. 27 against D.C. United. But since he hasn't played since Sept. 12, getting his legs under him before the MLS Cup playoffs begin will be a priority.
“If there’s an opportunity to get him some time on the field, it would be great just to get the rhythm because obviously it’s been over a month since he’s played,” Klopas said.
Meanwhile, Álvaro Fernández didn’t practice on Thursday after playing 25 minutes in Uruguay’s 4-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Bolivia on Tuesday. Klopas said the midfielder should be able to play on Saturday against the Revs.
“Unless someone kicked him on the plane and tackled him, there should be no problem with him being with the team,” Klopas said.
