COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Just months removed from leading his team with eight goals in 2013, the Rapids will have to make do without midfielder Jaime Castrillón for the foreseeable future.
“Jaime is going to have surgery,” Pareja told MLSsoccer.com after practice on Wednesday. “We’re going to wait on his recovery.”
The Rapids discovered a problem in Castrillón’s left knee during year-end medical exams in November, and the team ultimately decided to have the Colombian midfielder go under the knife.
Castrillón, 29, will likely be out for a significant amount of time, though the team has not announced an exact timetable or the exact nature of the injury.
Buddle to return Thursday
But with the lengthy departure of the Rapids’ leading scorer arrives what the team hopes will be a premier scorer in his place.
A right knee injury forced new acquisition Edson Buddle to miss his new team’s preseason trip to Arizona last week, but Pareja expects the striker back at practice on Thursday.
“He’s recovering very well,” Pareja said of the veteran striker, who was acquired from the Galaxy on Dec. 14. “He’s almost ready.”
Pareja also said the Rapids plan on having Buddle train on an individual basis though the weekend until he’s fully healthy.
Harbottle arrives
Hours after arriving from switching sides of the globe, new signing Kevin Harbottle was practicing with his new teammates on Wednesday afternoon.
The 22-year-old Chilean, who was signed last month from Chilean side Universidad Católica, took part in Wednesday’s afternoon session at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Harbottle is expected to see significant minutes in place of attacking midfielder Martín Rivero, who broke his foot last week.
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
