TUKWILA, Wash. – Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro has been called into the Uruguayan national team for two World Cup qualifiers next month, but whether that will affect his MLS availability has yet to be determined, Sounders interim coach Brian Schmetzer told reporters on Tuesday.
Uruguay play Argentina on Sept. 1 and Paraguay on Sept. 6, neither of which conflict with Sounders matches. However, the squad is scheduled to assemble on Aug. 29, just one day after Seattle plays the Portland Timbers in a Cascadia Cup clash at Providence Park.
“That could be a little tricky,” Schmetzer said. “We’re working on it. Obviously we’re going to do whatever we can [to not have him miss time].”
Lodeiro, 27, has been a regular cog for Uruguay since 2009, scoring three international goals in 42 appearances.
He’s also taken MLS by storm in his first three games with Seattle since signing as a Designated Player last month, tallying three assists and his first MLS goal in the Sounders’ 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake last Sunday.
“I think what he brings is energy,” Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan said on Tuesday. “Everybody’s been happy to have him here. You’ve seen it from day one. He’s a guy that wants to be here and you’ve seen it in the last three games.”
The Sounders have a bye following the match in Portland on Aug. 28, with the team’s next match not coming until a road fixture with the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on Sept. 10. The team could also lose Clint Dempsey, Brad Evans and Jordan Morris (United States), Joevin Jones (Trinidad & Tobago) and Oalex Anderson (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) for the upcoming international matches, though it's unclear which players will be called for the upcoming qualifiers for those countries.
Schmetzer said the condition of Erik Friberg, meanwhile, isn’t as serious as initially feared after the Swedish midfielder endured a high-speed collision with RSL defender Justen Glad near the end of Sunday’s match, calling him “day-to-day” with a quad contusion.
Defender Chad Marshall, who was named to the league’s Week 23 Team of the Week for his efforts on Sunday, is also fine after taking a minor knock to the back of his knee, Schmetzer said.
