Whether through injury or suspension, the Houston Dynamo have been mostly unable to field their first-choice XI as they work their way through a seven-game road trip to open the season. However, the team could finally be getting some good news on the injury front as it prepares to face D.C. United Saturday (6:30 pm ET, watch on KPRC Local 2).
After weeks of dealing with players dropping in and out of the lineup, Houston is set to get back close to full strength as both Brad Davis and Corey Ashe said on Thursday that they feel ready for Saturday's contest.
Davis, who suffered a left calf strain three weeks ago, was cleared Tuesday to resume full workouts and participated in a full training session Thursday for the first time since being injured.
“I’m feeling really good and think I’m an option for the weekend,” Davis told reporters. “Today, I did everything in training and felt great and hope to get going."
Head coach Dominic Kinnear said Davis’ availability for this weekend will be determined tomorrow. If he is available, Davis is ready to contribute.
“I’m going to push and play as hard as I can,” the left midfielder said. “If I get tired and Dom decides to make a change, then he’ll make a change. It’s not something I think about.”
While Davis is coming off an injury, the player filling in for him has been dealing with a knock of his own this week – Ashe picked up an injury to his hamstring in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew and exited early for Mac Kandji.
After sitting out training Monday and participating in parts of Tuesday’s session, Ashe was back for the full workout Thursday and feels confident for the weekend.
“I feel all right," he told reporters. "[I] took Monday off and have been doing the rehab stuff and come Saturday I should be fine. I still feel it a little but not as much as previous days. That’s a good sign.”
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While they got Davis and Ashe back Thursday, Houston was without starting center back Geoff Cameron.
“He had a bit of a headache today, we sent him to the doctor and we’ll see him tomorrow,” Kinnear said of Cameron's absence.
Praise for Luck
Many Dynamo players and coaches will be glued to the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Andrew Luck, son of former Dynamo president Oliver Luck, is expected to be taken first overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
After training Thursday, Kinnear said he would be watching as the Stanford University star takes the next step in his career.
“I don’t know any football players, but if anyone deserves all the attention he’s getting, it's Andrew,” said Kinnear, who watched Luck play at Stratford High School. “What was great was when we were in LA during preseason, he came down to two of our games, and when we played at AT&T Park [in San Francisco], he was down on the field.
"I know enough about football to know when someone’s a good player and what he’s done is excellent.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
