CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Rogers got some good news following an MRI this week on his sore left hamstring, but he's not going to be available for the LA Galaxy's Western Conference showdown Sunday at FC Dallas (7 pm ET; ESPN2).
The back-to-back games against the Seattle Sounders that follow? Perhaps.
By then, LA could have their first-choice backline together again, but this week they could be missing as many as three defensive starters, in addition to captain Robbie Keane, who is away on international duty, and suspended midfielder Marcelo Sarvas.
The Galaxy have asked USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to release center back Omar Gonzalez following the US national team's friendly Friday against Ecuador in East Hartford, Conn. – the US face Honduras on Tuesday in Boca Raton, Fla. – but have not received word on their request.
And right back Dan Gargan, who suffered a sprained left ankle in the win two weeks ago over New York, returned to full training Thursday and is hopeful he'll be ready by Sunday.
Rogers, who has repeatedly weathered injuries since signing with LA 16½ months ago, is in great spirits after learning his left hamstring, hurt early in last weekend's win over Toronto FC, wasn't nearly as bad as he first thought.
“I feel really good, actually,” Rogers told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday afternoon. “I [have] just a Grade 1 strain in my hamstring, the outside, so I was happy to figure that out and know what I need to do, and now I can kind of prepare. This week I'm just resting, letting my hamstring heal, and then I'll probably start training again next week.”
Rogers was asked if he might be available for the first of successive matchups with the Sounders, on Oct. 19 at StubHub Center, to determine the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield winners.
“I definitely think so,” he replied.
Gargan said he passed some physical tests earlier this week and was pleased with how far along he was in his recovery.
“We tested a lot of things out on Tuesday to see how it reacted, and it stayed without really swelling up, so that's good,” he said. “Doing some reactionary stuff and game-type situations, and we'll see how it reacts after that. … So today's a good first step toward getting there.”
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If Gargan can't go, A.J. DeLaGarza figures to start again at right back, although he could go to the left with James Riley playing on the left. Or Riley could be on the right. If Gargan can play and Gonzalez isn't available, head coach Bruce Arena will choose his center backs from among DeLaGarza, Leonardo and Tommy Meyer.
Meanwhile, veteran left back Todd Dunivant, who tore a groin muscle in the 6-0 rout over Colorado a month ago, is running again. He made his first on-field appearance Tuesday inside the main stadium at StubHub and was running during Thursday's training session on the Galaxy's practice field.
How soon will he back?
“Not that close,” he said. “This is my third day running, each day it's gotten better. Today was the first day of doing some strides – it's still linear. A big test with groins are your lateral movements and cutting.”
Dunivant, a new father with his daughter, Lula, now 10 days old – said he's “a long way from where I was even a week ago,” and the team's medical staff told him he's ahead of schedule. There is no timeline for his return.
“We're just taking what it gives you,” he said. “ … Always, the plan was to get back by playoffs.”
