The New York Red Bulls have a new position that needs addressing.
A day after head coach Mike Petke said the injury left back Roy Miller suffered in the Red Bulls’ 3-2 loss vs. Chivas USA last Sunday looked better than initially believed, the Costa Rican was ruled out for a couple of weeks. The timeframe of recovery for Miller, who was absent from training on Wednesday, means he will miss at least New York’s next two games vs. Eastern Conference foes D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo.
“Miller is out,” Petke told reporters after Wednesday’s muggy session. “Even if he was healthy, he was leaving Friday with the national team. He will be out for a couple of weeks. I don’t know the exact diagnosis, but it’s in his Achilles/ankle area.”
With Miller sidelined, the Red Bulls will need turn to either Kosuke Kimura or recent acquisition David Carney for a replacement at left back.
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Kimura would seem like the more probable candidate to start this weekend vs. United considering he was subbed on for the injured Miller this past Sunday. But Carney, who has not played in a match at the club level since August 2012, could be chosen instead if he continues to look solid in practice.
“He played 60 minutes in the reserve game yesterday, which was good, and he played today,” Petke said of Carney. “As the week goes on, we’ll figure out if he’s fit enough and available to play. With Roy out, we have to make an obvious adjustment there.
“It’s about seeing what’s the best fit for us. Carney played well in the reserve game [on Tuesday] and if he continues this week strong then he’ll definitely be an option that we’ll have.”
