KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Forward Jacob Peterson, sidelined for Sporting Kansas City's last two league matches with a hamstring injury, is expected to miss at least another two weeks in a longer-than-expected recovery process.
“I don't even want to say it's a strain,” manager Peter Vermes told MLSsoccer.com after Tuesday's training session. “He's got a little contusion here that's bothering him, and I think it's going to be another couple of weeks.”
Peterson, who also missed Sporting's CONCACAF Champions League opener, was hurt in a collision with Vancouver's Darren Mattocks during a 2-0 away loss to the Whitecaps on Aug. 10.
“It was kind of a fluky thing,” said Peterson, who has two league goals in 19 appearances this season. “It was my fault. I fouled the guy, and his knee hit the back of my leg and just caused – we thought it was just a bruise for a while, just a contusion, but then it turned into something a little bit worse. So we'll monitor it, and hopefully sooner rather than later it'll start feeling better.”
Peterson's injury - and midfielder Paulo Nagamura's extended recovery from a nagging ankle injury - have left Sporting without two of their grittiest ball-winners in recent weeks.
“Those are two guys with incredible work ethic and experience, that's for sure,” Vermes said. “But it's par for the course. That's the way it's been for us all season. We'll manage it.”
Nagamura has not played in eight league matches since being hurt on July 6 in a 1-1 draw with Chicago but has taken on an increased training load in recent days. Still, he remains questionable for Friday night's home match against the Houston Dynamo.
“Every week, he's doing a little more and more,” Vermes said. “Hopefully, tomorrow he comes into full training. We'll just have to wait and see.”
