Defender Wilman Conde had a sinus infection last week, causing him to miss the Chicago Fire's game against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Fire coach Denis Hamlett had to find someone to take his place in the starting lineup, but he could not call on veteran C.J. Brown, who is out with a quad injury, or Daniel Woolard, who started one of the first three games of the season but is out for a long time with a severe high ankle sprain.
But Hamlett still had Dasan Robinson, the fourth-year player who was a starter for much of the first two seasons of his career before an ankle sprain pushed him back in 2008. Robinson had 44 starts in 2006 and 2007 and had one national team call-up during that time.
While most MLS teams might have some depth on defense, the Fire have what might be referred to as deep depth.
"You always talk about it," Hamlett said. "Between injuries, sickness, suspensions, call-ups, you need a deep bench. That is something we try to do here, to have guys who are capable of stepping in at any moment."
Robinson has been waiting for his chance to step in ever since he recovered from the ankle sprain he suffered in June of 2008 in a game against D.C. United. By the time August came around and he was ready to play again, Conde had settled into the fourth back spot along with Bakary Soumare, Brandon Prideaux and Gonzalo Segares.
All four of those players are back this season, and the Fire added defender Tim Ward, who has started all four games, although he started as a defensive midfielder in the San Jose game. It's a tough crowd to break in to, as Robinson can attest.
"That's the way sports go," Robinson said. "You can't take anything away from Baky or Wilman, two of the best central defenders in the league. It's tough, obviously, but that is the team we have. I can't take anything away from those guys. They are skilled, and talented, and our whole roster is skilled and talented."
The Fire appear to be really benefiting from the addition of Ward, a former youth national team player who has bounced around on four teams in five years. He played right back in the first three games in place of Prideaux, who had an injury late in the preseason, and then on Saturday he moved up into the midfield after starter John Thorrington was issued a red card the week before.
Prideaux started against San Jose, but when Hamlett called on Mexican superstar Cuauhtemoc Blanco for the second half, Ward moved back to the defensive slot and Prideaux came off the field.
"The guy is a soccer player," Hamlett said. "You put him in different spots and the soccer still comes out."
Conde was not 100 percent in training on Wednesday, and the overcast and cold weather was not helping him. Robinson could get another start on Saturday against Kansas City, which would give him back-to-back starts for the first time since late in 2007.
"It felt good to get back in there," Robinson said. "I appreciate the coaching staff having the faith in me to put me back in the lineup."
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
