COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Colorado Rapids midfield could have a different look this weekend, with Dillon Powers and José Mari both battling injuries that could leave them out of the picture for Saturday’s clash with the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field (4 pm ET; UDN, MLS Live).
Powers (lower leg soreness) missed Tuesday’s practice, while José Mari (right quadriceps) did jogging and other light work off to the side. José Mari missed Saturday’s scoreless home draw against the San José Earthquakes, while Powers played the full 90 minutes last weekend.
Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni said as recently as last week that he was looking to get Powers, who has battled knee tendonitis all season, a break. With Saturday’s game to be played on turf, perhaps this could be the week to rest the reigning MLS Rookie of the Year.
“I think we’ll know a little later on in the week,” Mastroeni said of Powers’ potential availability this weekend. “I’m not concerned.”
Meanwhile, José Mari’s right quadriceps injury, suffered in practice last week, is healing, and he is optimistic about his availability this weekend. The 26-year-old Spaniard, who featured in four of Colorado’s first five games of this season, believes that he should be fit for the weekend as long as he doesn’t suffer a hiccup between now and then.
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“I’m adding more and more things and hoping to get back into the full group soon,” José Mari told MLSsoccer.com, while adding that he initially feared that he’d done something worse. “I’m happy to be back training – it bothers me not to be out there.”
Chris Bianchi covers the Colorado Rapids for MLSsoccer.com.
