The injury news regarding the Seattle Sounders (2-5-2 7pts) went from bad to catastrophic Thursday afternoon when Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer announced after the teams practice that forward Will Bruin suffered a partial tear in his plantar fascia and the timeline for the rugged forwards return would be weeks rather than days.
“It’s another considerable injury,” Schmetzer said. “So that was a massive blow to the squad. But he is determined to come back sooner than the doctors predict because he’s a tough kid. …I’m going to give you guys updates as the week progresses. If he’s healthy he’s going to play but at this point, I don’t know.”
While Bruin did not play in the Sounders 1-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on Sunday, he scored a goal in the teams 2-1 win over Toronto last week.
Midfielder Victor Rodrguez has yet to see the pitch due to a knee injury while Osvaldo Alonso missed the Portland and Toronto games due to a quadricep injury. Alonso, last action with the Sounders was the Rave Greens 0-0 home draw against the Columbus Crew. Also injured and unavailable for club duty are Roman Torres ( right hamstring), and Nicolas Lodeiro ( toe fracture)
Both players have left the club and headed out to thier perspective National teams and are now in a race against time to try and heal in time to be named to their Countries World Cup rosters. Gustav Svensson was also given his early release to begin training with the Sweeden World Cup squad.
That leaves Schmetzer and his troops six days to heal before hosting Real Salt Lake (4-4-1,13pts)on Saturday, May 26th 2:00pm PT. The healing process for the Sounders will need to be physically and mentally. Waylon Francis did not make the trip down to Portland due to coaches decision, the Sounders current 5-4-1 formation is not doing Clint Dempsey any favors. The Sounders have scored a league-low seven goals and are in the last place in the 12 team Western Conference.
The Sounders have been switching formations due to injuries and fixture congestion leaving the team with no real consistent formation. Add the glaring absence of leadership on the field you now have a team with a huge elephant in the room with no one willing to step up and make demands of self and others.
Seattle Sounders
- OUT: F – Jordan Morris (torn ACL 2/22, out for season) – READ
- OUT: M – Victor Rodriguez (right knee arthroscopy 5/1) – READ
- OUT: D – Roman Torres (right hamstring strain)
- OUT: M – Osvaldo Alonso (left quad strain) – REPORT
- OUT: F – Will Bruin (left heel pain) – REPORT
- QUESTIONABLE: M – Nicolas Lodeiro (toe fracture)
