After a four-day break in the middle of what will end up being a 20-day gap between MLS matches, D.C. United returned to the soggy practice field at RFK Stadium this morning looking refreshed and energized for the oddly-schedule but crucial stretch run that will come this fall, starting Saturday at Chivas USA. The team is also looking at remaining on the West Coast next week before its Sept. 17 match at Seattle.
“We were walking out [to the practice field],” United midfielder Clyde Simms said, “and I was telling some of the guys it was the best I felt in a long time.”
With Chris Pontius having returned from U.S. national team duty, the main absences were D.C.’s three remaining players on international duty: Bill Hamid, Andy Najar and Dwayne De Rosario. Of course, Dejan Jakovic was also missing, stuck inside RFK working on rehab of his yet-again-injured hamstring.
Josh Wolff (hip) did individual drill work as did Steve Cronin (shoulder) after doing some work with the goalkeepers, but for my money, the most interesting presence on the field was that of Branko Boskovic, who has added some light ball work to his routine over the past week or so.
“It’s more fun than the last three months in the gym and on the training table,” Boskovic said. “It’s been terrible, but I think better things are coming. When you are kicking the ball, you are happier, have more motivation.”
Having just passed the four-month mark from left knee surgery, Boskovic couldn’t put a timetable on his exact return but said he was three to four weeks ahead of schedule. He’s looking ahead at possibly rejoining the team for warm-ups and seeing perhaps where he might be by the end of the month. But he’s also leaving things in the hands of trainers, and let’s be honest, returning to the field any time this season is probably a stretch.
“It’s a tease,” United head coach Ben Olsen said of having Boskovic out on the practice field again. “I think he has a ways to go, but it’s really nice to see him out here. I’m really happy for him because having been through these injuries and surgeries, just to get on the field and get some touches around the guys, it changes your whole demeanor with rehab and life.”
And in theory, Boskovic could play again this season. In theory.
“You have to get back, and then you have to get back,” Olsen said. “There are two sides to getting back from injury.”
