Chicago Fire midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco is not expected to be able to play a full 90 minutes for the Fire against FC Dallas in Saturday's season opener as he recovers from a swollen knee.
Blanco, 36, participated in full practice Wednesday at Toyota Park and is expected to be available for selection for coach Denis Hamlett.
"He had an issue, some swelling in his knee the first part of the preseason," Hamlett said. "He slowly got back into it in Mexico but was in and out. In L.A., he was able to play and train every day, got himself two 90-minute games against the college teams and two reserve roles against Chivas and L.A. (Galaxy).
"We feel he is moving the right direction," Hamlett said. "Is he ready to play 90 minutes at the MLS level? I'm not quite sure yet. We have to be smart with him and push him the right way to get him up to speed."
Hamlett said he is more likely to use Blanco as a reserve against FC Dallas than to start him and then replace him during the game.
"It's better for the team," Hamlett said. "We have played the entire preseason without starting him because he wasn't available. So now to put him in ... but you get three subs, and it's not like you can waste a sub early in the game to play him 30 minutes and take him off just before halftime.
"The logic is you go into the game and have him as a reserve and see how the game plays out. Hopefully, we don't need him, but if we need him, we have his services available."
Blanco played 27 games last season for the Fire, scoring seven goals with 11 assists in his second MLS season. After the 2008 season came to an end, he played for Club Santos Laguna in Mexico in a brief loan stint.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
