ASN Injury Report
Stuart Holden, Josh Gatt, Cherundolo on the Mend
Welcome to the first-ever ASN Injury Report, a recurring column that digs deep for the latest injury information on top American players. Check it out and then tell us what you think.
BY
Nick Kariuki
Posted
November 13, 2013
10:24 AM
After missing five weeks with a calf injury, Fabian Johnson made his return to Hoffenheim in a 2-2 tie against Hertha Berlin. Johnson had a chance to equalize for his side minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute but could not convert. Johnson nearly scored again in the final moments of the match after receiving a nice pass from Sejad Sahilhovic, but Hertha Keeper Thomas Kraft blocked his shot.
Hannover captain Steve Cherundolo made the bench for the first time this season in the team’s 0-0 draw against Braunschweig. The veteran fullback has undergone three surgeries to treat his left knee in the past 12 months, most recently in August. German website Kicker reported that after a two-week delay, Cherundolo returned to training on Wednesday, though his workload had to be reduced significantly.
In the English Championship, Seb Hines returned to the Middlesbrough first team in its 2-2 draw with Watford. Hines started the game and was substituted after 88 minutes. During the match the center back was able to pressure Watford’s top-scorer, Troy Deeney, enough to prevent him from scoring a second goal around the 64-minute mark. Hines, who has played in England youth national teams but is also eligible for the United States, had been sidelined since April with a micro-fracture in his knee. While training with Boro’s reserves, Hines scored against Liverpool’s reserves last Monday.
Danny Williams suffered a setback in his recovery from a bone bruise on his foot, which has kept him out of Reading matchday roster since September 18. The Reading Post reported that Williams returned to training on Monday but suffered a major setback on Thursday. Williams was looking forward to facing Queens Park Rangers last weekend, hoping to put an end to what he described as “the most frustrating six or seven weeks” of his career. On Tuesday, Reading manager Nigel Adkins announced that Williams is back in training.
There has been no change to Birmingham City defender Jonathan Spector’s two-to-three month return-date after injuring his thigh training In October. According to Blues boss Lee Clark, Spector pulled up sharply after sprinting uncontested for the ball and his versatility is missed.
Stuart Holden is set to return to England next month, the Bolton News reported on November 2. The midfielder’s rehabilitation to his right ACL injury sustained during national duties against Panama seems to be going well, and he is still on course to train with the team again in early 2014. Holden remains upbeat as ever, telling the Daily Mail in October that he “told Jurgen Klinsman I’ll be on that plane to Brazil—and I don’t plan on going back on my word.”
At Molde FK in the Norwegian League, Josh Gatt remains on the sidelines after his season-ending knee injury in July. Like Holden he remains positive, Tweeting in October that “I am shooting for next years preseason which is January. But I'm not gonna rush it. But I have that month as my set goal.”
With the MLS in playoff mode, several players have the offseason to recover from the injuries they’ve picked up. According to the Washington Post, Chris Pontius had surgery Wednesday to repair his left hamstring and sciatic nerve. The forward will be out six-to-eight weeks, which would leave enough time for him to make the MLS camps in late January.
Rookie midfielder Dillon Powers missed the last four games of the Colorado Rapid’s season after displaying concussion symptoms.
Center back George John has also been out since October with a patella tendon strain.
New York Red Bull Heath Pearce is still recovering from his season-ending surgery to repair a laberal tear in his hip and should be fit again in December if his projected six-month recovery goes to plan.
The congested postseason seems to be taking its toll on Houston Dynamo pair Will Bruin and Ricardo Clark. In the Dynamo’s Conference Final against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, Clark was substituted after 26 minutes with an injury to his left leg. Bruin came off at half time and was wearing a protective boot on his left foot after the match.
Jurgen Klinsman has removed some big-name players from his 23-man squad to face Scotland on Friday and Austria next Tuesday. The coach has decided not to call up Landon Donovan so that he can recover from a lingering ankle injury that has been hampering Donovan since September 14’s 2-2 draw with D.C. United. At the Galaxy’s final media availability on Monday Donovan told the press, “My aim is to take at least the next four weeks and probably six weeks and let the ankle heal and then get myself ready.”
Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan has also been excluded with what the Express and Star referred to as a “mystery injury.”
Tijuana’s Edgar Castillo is out with a hamstring tweak.
According to a San Jose Earthquakes representative, Clarence Goodson is resting a sore ankle picked up at the end of the season. The defender should be fit again by late November, leaving him rested and available for his club in January.
This is Nick Kariuki's first piece for American Soccer Now. Follow him on Twitter.
