Health giveth, concussions taketh away for D.C. United at training on Tuesday, where defender Dejan Jakovic returned to full practice while rookie Blake Brettschneider became the latest addition to an uncanny number of United players out with concussion symptoms.
Brettscheider took an accidental but perfectly square boot to the face from New York defender Jan Gunnar Solli late in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the Red Bulls – he said he didn’t remember anything in the match after the incident despite continuing to play.
Olsen joked with the rookie on Tuesday about it, but don’t mistake that for the team taking any chances with a group that also includes Devon McTavish, Santino Quaranta and Brandon Barklage.
“It’s just like everybody else,” Olsen said. “I don’t have to tell you the protocol, just have to make sure we’re smart with them.”
Jakovic said it’s been agonizing to watch so much soccer, having missed both the Gold Cup with Canada and a slate of D.C. United matches. His absence certainly helped inspire the acquisition of Brandon McDonald, who has played a big role in solidifying the D.C. defense over the last two weeks, particularly in last weekend’s 1-0 shutout.
“He’s got experience, and he’s a tough cookie,” Jakovic said. “He’s a good communicator. I think he’s played really well since he’s come in so definitely a good addition to our team.”
When asked about his newfound fight to keep his place on Jakovic gets healthy, rookie center back Ethan White happily said, “Let the battle begin.”
“He’s very vocal,” White said of McDonald. “You always know where he’s going to be, where he’s going to go, and where he wants you. It just makes everybody’s job easier. It was definitely missing. Me and Perry [Kitchen] are still learning. We’re doing a lot to handle certain situations as you saw against San Jose. Just coming in and telling us what to do, where to go, it’s a huge help to us.”
Jamaican outside back Eric Vernan and another unnamed trialist took part in training, playing for United’s reserves in a scrimmage against the D.C. United under-23 squad.
