Good news for Sounders FC’s Jhon Kennedy Hurtado
Jul 12, 2011, 12:20 PM | Updated: 4:59 pm
Seattle Sounders FC got good news from the doctors on starting central defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado.
An MRI shows a sprained medial collateral ligament of the right knee of Hurtado, who was hurt in a collision with a Timbers player during Sunday’s 3-2 Sounders victory at Portland.
According to head coach Sigi Schmid, the injury could keep Hurtado out just a couple weeks. Hurtado was actually doing a bit of stationary bike riding Tuesday.
Patrick Ianni or Zach Scott are candidates to replace Hurtado in Saturday’s MLS match against the visiting Colorado Rapids.
Seattle forward O’Brian White continues to progress from the blood clot surgery in his leg. He said after training on Tuesday he’s getting more fit, and hopes to play in a match soon. The Jamaican national has been out of action since late April, when Sounders FC also lost Steve Zakuani to a broken leg.
UPDATE: White has been removed from the club’s Disabled List, making him immediately eligible to participate in MLS games.
Sounders FC are expecting a crowd of more than 4,000 for Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
From all indications both teams will be using many of their starters. Galaxy coach Bruce Arena has made it clear he wants to beat the two-time defending champion Sounders in this tournament. That means fans could get an up close look at Landon Donovan and David Beckham. LA does not have an MLS match this weekend.
Schmid told me he’d like to use many of his Seattle starters, but has to consider Saturday afternoon’s MLS match against Colorado as well. Judging from Twitter, many Sounders fans are looking forward to the Rapids match, and displaying their anger towards Colorado midfielder Brian Mullen. He served a 10-game MLS suspension for his straight legged slide tackle that injured Zakuani.