TUKWILA, Wash. — Eddie Johnson did not train with the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday and it is not clear when he’ll be back.
When asked if Johnson’s status was health related, Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid responded, “Eddie’s absence today at training was basically my decision.”
Why, exactly, Johnson was absent was not clear. But he did leave training early on Tuesday, seemingly agitated and he made several posts to his Instagram account that suggest he is not happy. Among them:
Johnson has not suited up for the Sounders since scoring his team-leading ninth goal of the season in a 5-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Oct. 5, which turned out to be the first of four straight losses.
The forward left the Sounders to join up with the United States national team shortly after the Rapids game, but injured his hamstring during a training session. He returned to the club and seemed to be on pace for a return against FC Dallas, before apparently re-aggravating the injury last week.
Similar to his reaction following Johnson’s now infamous “pay me” celebration, Schmid downplayed the current situation.
“It’s not an issue at all, because we’re focused as a team to do well and to be successful,” the coach said on Wednesday. “He’s been a big part of our team. It’s one of the things we’ll work through.”
