The Seattle Sounders enter their bye weekend hoping to get a bit healthier, as three key players continue to deal with injuries.
Osvaldo Alonso and Lamar Neagle still weren’t healthy enough to participate in Friday’s intra-squad scrimmage, while DeAndre Yedlin was forced out of the United States' 4-1 loss to Ghana at the U-20 World Cup on Thursday with a “minor” shoulder separation.
Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid was at least hopeful all three would be available for next Wednesday’s game against D.C. United.
“They’re getting a lot closer,” Schmid said about Alonso and Neagle. “We’ll see tomorrow how we push them. We think tomorrow Lamar will be in training and Alonso will be very close.”
READ: After USMNT stint, Sounders' Brad Evans ponders European future
The Sounders have not yet had a chance to see Yedlin, who is due to arrive back from Turkey on Friday night. Schmid did not sound overly concerned about his right back, either.
“He fell on his shoulder,” Schmid explained. “It’s a minor separation. He said his strength was good, and his range of motion was good afterward. He just didn’t feel comfortable at the time. That’s the kind of injury that often just takes two or three days to calm down a little bit and then you’re ok. We’ll have to evaluate him tomorrow.”
Yedlin has been one of the Sounders’ healthiest players this season. The 19-year-old has appeared in all but two matches, one because of a red card and the other while he was with the U-20 team.
Among his possible replacements are Zach Scott and Brad Evans. Scott started at right back in the scrimmage, while Evans made four straight starts at the position during his national team stint.
