Heading into Saturday's season opener at CommunityAmerica Ballpark against D.C. United, the Kansas City Wizards have good news -- and some not so good news -- regarding player availability.
The good news begins with designated player Claudio Lopez. His P-1 visa was approved Monday afternoon, meaning he will be available for Saturday's clash. Expected to complete the Wizards attack with his guile and finishing prowess, the Argentinean has not been allowed to play in any preseason exhibitions or scrimmages while awaiting the completion of his paperwork although he has been training.
Midfielders Sasha Victorine and Davy Arnaud could add to the list of available players as well.
Victorine has missed much of preseason due to the birth of his daughter and a right high-ankle sprain that followed.
"Things are definitely moving forward, which is a good feeling after watching a lot of the last two weeks ...," said Victorine. "We're on track for everything to be going here pretty soon."
After seeing the versatile midfielder play 75 minutes in Saturday's 1-0 exhibition win over Real Salt Lake in Oklahoma, head coach Curt Onalfo was pleased.
"The prognosis looks pretty good ... that's the first 75 minutes that he's played all preseason," said Onalfo. "If everything goes well, he'll probably be available this weekend."
Arnaud's recovery from offseason knee surgery continues to go well enough that Onalfo didn't count out Arnaud being available this weekend.
"[Davy] is coming along well. The plan is for him to be training this week as a neutral player, and if he feels good into next week -- full-out training," said Onalfo. "He's feeling very, very good, so we're not too far off. I don't see him in the team this weekend unless he makes some very good progress in the next couple of days. I wouldn't rule it out, there's a small chance [he'll play Saturday]."
Though good news abounds, team captain Jimmy Conrad played with a cast on his broken left hand Saturday and picked up another injury during the match.
"Jimmy came out of the game [Saturday] in the 81st minute with a hamstring issue, so he's in doubt for this weekend," Onalfo said.
In addition, there are several supporting players in various stages of recovery.
"[Ryan] McMahen (knee injury) is still not training. [Roger] Espinoza (broken foot) is a little ways off, and [Lance] Watson (broken foot) is obviously out," Onalfo said.
But the Wizards boss has constructed a squad more able to handle current setbacks and others surely to come during the eight-month long season.
"We feel very confident going in," Onalfo said. "We know that we're a little bit depleted with injuries with Sasha not being 100 percent and Davy not available. But we still have a lot of good depth."
Bob Rusert is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
