TUKWILA, Wash. – Seattle Sounders defender Brad Evans is training in full again after sitting out the team’s last two matches, but it’s not clear yet if he’ll return against the Montreal Impact on Saturday (7 p.m. PT; Q13 FOX/Univision Seattle/ROOT Sports (outside Seattle)/KIRO 97.3 FM/El Rey 1360 AM).
Evans suffered a dislocated shoulder when he was undercut by Sporting Kansas City forward Dom Dwyer in the Sounders' season opener on March 6.
“I don’t recommend it,” Evans joked when asked what the injury felt like. “Its kind of a strange feeling…. You can feel a little pop and your shoulder just sits in front of your chest. Then you lean back a little bit and it just sucks right back in the socket. The aftermath is the worst part.”
Head coach Sigi Schmid said he was happy to have Evans back, and that the veteran’s availability against the Impact will be determined in the coming days.
“We’ll see. Again, today was the first heavier day for him so a lot depends on how you feel the next day,” said Schmid. “If he feels alright, then we’ll go from there.”
While Evans said he feels good now, the primary concern for him and the coaching staff is that the same injury doesn’t happen again. Dislocated shoulders are notorious for their persistence and can turn into serious problems if not healed properly the first time.
“That’s why the rehab is the most important part,” Evans told reporters. “The problem is the labrum that keeps it in there is like a buffer and it tears, so trying to rehab all the muscles around it, because that will be the one that will take the longest to heal.”
Evans is currently wearing a shoulder brace to assist in the rehab process and prevent any further injury while training. He expects to wear it for “at least the next month or two.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Erik Friberg is still rehabbing a strained MCL he picked up against Real Salt Lake on March 12 when he went in for a tackle on Jordan Allen. It is clear that Friberg will not be available for Saturday’s match, but Schmid offered some encouraging news at Tuesday’s training.
“He’s getting better,” said Schmid. “When you come back off an injury like his with the MCL, it’s always a step process. You step up, then you plateau, and then you step up again. He’s on the plateau stage right now.”
Midfielder Cristian Roldan is expected to start again in Friberg’s absence on Saturday.
Mears Discusses Green Card
Defender Tyrone Mears now has permanent resident status in the United States after the club announced on Tuesday that he has obtained a U.S. Green Card.
Aside from being an important move for the club, which now has another international roster spot to play with, the move signifies a new life chapter for Mears and a more long-term relationship with the Sounders.
“Yeah I really like living in America,” said Mears. “Especially in Seattle, and I definitely see a future here, so I was really happy with that.”
Mears, who led the team in minutes last season, has quickly become a staple in the starting lineup and an essential link in the back line. Sounders fans will be happy to see his continued presence on the field this season now as a permanent resident of the United States.
“The club worked hard to get the green card really quick for me,” Mears said. “They’re really professional … everything was really smooth.”
