TUKWILA, Wash. – Roman Torres went through full training with the club Monday at Starfire Sports for the first time since suffering a devastating injury last year, but there’s still no timeline for when he’ll return to the Seattle Sounders’ lineup.
Interim head coach Brian Schmetzer said Torres had been a limited participant in practice in recent weeks as he works his way back from a torn ACL, suffered during a match against the San Jose Earthquakes last September in just his fourth game with the club.
“Roman went through full training and he worked hard,” Schmetzer said. “So that’s exciting. When he’s ready, he’s going to play.”
Schmetzer said Torres likely won’t be ready in time for Seattle’s road matchup with Orlando City FC on Sunday.
“[This weekend] is probably too soon,” Schmetzer said. “He needs a full week and [the Orlando game] is on the road and on turf. But we’ll keep him on the right path.”
Whenever he does make his return to the field, the Sounders hope the Panamanian center back can offer an immediate boost to the team’s backline.
Torres figures to be paired alongside three-time MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall, in what looked to be one of the league’s more physically imposing pair of central defenders during their brief time playing together last season.
Schmetzer also said that midfielder Erik Friberg trained on Monday after he missed Seattle’s 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy on Sunday with an ankle injury.
