While the Houston Dynamo prepare for their first Eastern Conference showdown of the year on Sunday against the Chicago Fire, forward Calen Carr is preparing for a bit of a homecoming.
The speedy forward was traded to Houston from Chicago in March of 2011 after spending five years in red. A year has passed and much has changed for the 6-foot tall Carr, who played an important role with the Dynamo during the run to MLS Cup.
“Getting here last year it was tough, being injured when you’re traded, but suddenly I was playing and we had a great run,” Carr told MLSsoccer.com on Monday. “This year, I know all the guys better and know the city and am really enjoying it here.
“I went up and watched the game last year,” continued Carr, who was out injured when Houston traveled to Chicago last April, and missed much of his first year in Orange dealing with post-concussion effects. “I flew up from Houston but it’ll be nice to be healthy this year. I’m excited and think the team’s looking good, and that’s the most important thing.”
The concussion delayed Carr’s integration into the Dynamo on the field but he was a quick fit in the locker room.
“He’s a guy that’s a good personality and keeps the guys laughing,” said captain and fellow forward Brian Ching. “The guys rally around him sometimes as far as cracking jokes and he’s OK with it. He brings a different dimension to the team and is one of the smarter soccer forwards we have on the team in terms of making good runs. He’s been a huge addition both on and off the field.”
With a firm grip on his role, Carr is looking forward to visiting his former home for the first time as an active player.
“I was in Chicago for a long time and enjoyed every moment of it,” Carr said. “It’ll be nice to go back there and play. But first and foremost it’s a business trip.”
Davis confirms strained calf muscle, status for Sunday still in doubt
A day after missing training Brad Davis confirmed that his MRI revealed a minor strain in his left calf. The all-star left midfielder sustained the injury during Saturday’s training, and said he’s taking things “day-to-day.”
He expressed his relief that the prognosis was not worst-case scenario.
“The good news is it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be,” said Davis, who missed the MLS Cup 2011 final with a torn right quad muscle. “This little thing is the nature of the beast and it can happen at any time. It’s frustrating because I want to be out there competing but the good news I’ll be ready to go sooner rather than later.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
