When Alecko Eskandarian joined Chivas USA during the offseason, he planned to quickly integrate himself to his new club and help the team however possible.
Things have not quite turned out the way he had hoped, though.
Eskandarian has been hampered by injuries since the preseason and his time with the club has been severely limited. The former MLS Cup Most Valuable Player has appeared just once this season and his return to the pitch is uncertain as the club prepares for Sunday's match against New England.
Normally not at a loss for words, Eskandarian had trouble explaining his disappointment.
"I can't tell you how frustrated I am, especially since I worked so hard in the offseason. I lost 10 pounds, got in the best shape I've ever been in and really felt coming in that I was going to have an impact," Eskandarian said. "To get this freak injury thing we can't seem to figure out has been super frustrating because I've been watching the games and I know I can't help the team out."
A right groin strain has kept Eskandarian from playing more than just 13 minutes during the 2008 MLS season. In his limited time, Eskandarian showed his worth to his new club as he buried a late goal in a 3-1 win against Real Salt Lake on April 5.
Eskandarian, though, said he was working hard to try and overcome his injury. He is on a modified training schedule and performs stretching and strengthening exercises and jogs as well. His participation in a full training session, though, has been nonexistent for weeks now, and the mental toll is piling up.
"I still get depressed watching. It's the worst thing ever," Eskandarian said. "Rubbing salt on the wound is being forced to watch practice every day and watch games but with that said all these guys have been great, have treated me great."
To battle the injury and possibly help him overcome it, the club sent Eskandarian to a specialist in Germany. While surgery seemed like a natural outcome, Eskandarian's injury did not require such a procedure and instead he received treatment in Germany.
Not having undergone a surgical procedure was a double-edged sword for Eskandarian.
"On the one hand it's good because you never want to get surgery. It's one of those things that as a soccer player you want to stay away from surgery as much as possible," he said. "But on the other hand I got a bunch of treatment that got me some relief but at the same time I wanted to get better right away."
Eskandarian said he did not know when he might be well enough to dress for a match. Earlier this week, he said there was "no way" he would play against New England.
"For one, I haven't practiced in weeks and weeks," he said. "I definitely want to work hard and get fit and I know Preki would want me to work hard and get my fitness level up to par with the rest of the team before I even think about stepping onto the field."
What about a possible return against his former club, D.C. United on May 17?
"That was kind of my target date a couple weeks back so we'll see if I'm ready," Eskandarian said. "I'm going to do everything I can to get ready as early as possible. I need this pain to get away."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
