Union's Edu is training but not ready to play
Union designated player and midfielder Maurice Edu is back training fully with the team, but there is still not a date for him to make his season debut after being out all year with a stress fracture in his left leg.
Union designated player and midfielder Maurice Edu is back training fully with the team, but there is still not a date for him to make his season debut after being out all year with a stress fracture in his left leg.
One thing for sure is his return isn't going to be this week, when the Union play twice. It's the last time the Union will have more than one game a week for the rest of the Major League Soccer season.
Union coach Jim Curtin said he wants Edu to play in a game with the team's United Soccer League affiliate, the Bethlehem Steel, before returning to MLS action.
The Steel next play Saturday in Louisville.
The Union (9-9-7) will play at Columbus (4-8-11) on Wednesday and then host Peter Vermes' Sporting Kansas City team (11-11-5) on Saturday.
So Edu could return for the final seven games, but that is a best-case scenario.
"Some days are better than others, and things look promising because I am getting more touches on the ball, being in more game-like situations," Edu said after Monday's training session. "
Edu said he still had pain and, like Curtin, would not put a date on his return.
Midfielder Brian Carroll, who suffered plantar fasciitis on Aug. 6, still isn't training with the team, so when he will return is not known. He was given an original time line of three to six weeks for his recovery.
Another midfielder, Ilsinho, is bothered by a sore foot, and his status for Wednesday was not announced.
@sjnard