Brad Davis’ calf passed a big test at Monday’s training session.
The Houston Dynamo midfielder put his leg through a series of agility drills that involved cutting and game-like simulations and could return to full participation with the club as early as Tuesday.
“This is the first time I’ve been really able to get back on the field and really test it,” Davis told MLSsoccer.com. “You want to slowly progress and that’s what I was doing, going through some slow agility stuff and making sure that was okay and then ramping it up and I ended up getting to a 100 percent. Now I know I’m comfortable with the fact that I can get back into training and feel confident that the calf’s good.”
Davis, who recently passed Cobi Jones for seventh in MLS history with his 92nd career assist, injured the calf muscle during a training session two weeks ago. It kept him out of the team's 1-1 draw against the Montreal Impact on Oct. 6.
But following Monday’s positive signs, the Dynamo appear poised to have their playmaker back. It's a return that could loom large with just two regular-season matches remaining and the Dynamo one point ahead of the Columbus Crew to clinch a playoff spot.
“He’s a great player and obviously he’s been a part of everything in terms of our success,” defender Bobby Boswell said. “We need everyone who's available and healthy to play, so getting him back to healthy is the goal. ... He’s a very important piece of this team.”
Davis said he would monitor his progress and speak with head coach Dominic Kinnear before a decision is made for the team's crucial game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
“I want to know that I’m able to do everything I’m capable of,” Davis said. “It’s a time of year where we need 11 guys who are healthy out on that field. It’d be a disservice to myself and my teammates to just say I’m okay and go out there and hop around and not play to my capability.
“The guys have to have confidence in me and see me be able to train and say, ‘OK, he’s good to go.’ It’s gotta be there with a group of guys.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
