BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Mike Magee didn't want to leave Saturday's game against Seattle, and he made that clear when he waved off a substitution after going down in the 32nd minute of the Fire's 2-1 loss.
But Fire head coach Frank Klopas felt compelled to remove the league's leading scorer from the game at half time for fellow forward Juan Luis Anangono.
“We need guys 100 percent,” Klopas told MLSsoccer.com. “That's the thing. I'm sure no player wants to come out, but when you're injured and not 100 percent, you're not 100 percent.”
Both Klopas and Magee were mum Tuesday if the team’s leading scorer will be available tonight against Toronto (7:30 pm ET, MLS Live), when Chicago look to snap a two-game winless streak. After Saturday's game, however, Klopas appeared hopeful about the apparent groin injury.
“He had a groin situation, you know,” Klopas said. “With the amount of games coming up, and being on turf this game and stuff … He tweaked it a little … It could have been worse. He came out, hopefully we got it in time and hopefully he’ll be ready for Wednesday.”
Winger Patrick Nyarko, meanwhile, is apparently back to 100 percent after a recent concussion scare, but he may have to improve his sharpness to beat out Alex and Dilly Duka for an outside midfield spot.
“He's ready,” Klopas said. “He's 100 percent. He was 100 percent last game. If he wasn't, we wouldn't have put him in. When you miss time, there's fitness and timing, all of that … He's better, he's 100 percent but the other guys are playing well.”
