Colorado Rapids forward Kevin Doyle goes for a header over Houston Dynamo defenders David Horst (18) and A.J. Cochran (16) during the second half of a game on Aug. 26, 2015, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. (Brent Lewis, The Denver Post)
The Rapids will likely be without striker Kevin Doyle this weekend when they take on the Dynamo in Houston. Doyle missed last weekend with what was described as an adductor (thigh) injury.
Doyle was held out of training this week and did light jogging and work off to the side.
Coach Pablo Mastroeni said Tuesday the injury was expected to keep Doyle out of full-team training for about 10 days. That could put his availabilty in question for the decisive Rocky Mountain Cup match against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 4.
“The travel from here to Ireland and being there for a while, then traveling straight from Ireland, going to Vancouver, playing on the turf for a little bit, all that stuff adds up,” Mastroeni said Tuesday. “Itap all connected. I think (Doyle had) a bit of fatigue and he’d been playing quite a bit and playing really hard. All of those things added up.”
Rookie striker Dominique Badji was also said to have an adductor injury that kept him out of the Toronto match and training this week.
Center of attention. The Rapids are also dealing with injuries at the center back position. Axel Sjoberg, the 6-foot-7 rookie from Sweden, is expected to miss about two weeks with a hamstring injury. He joined Doyle and Badji for light work on Tuesday.
Sean St. Ledger, the Irish central defender, was missing from training on Tuesday. Mastroeni said he was out with an unknown knee ailment.
“We don’t really know (the nature of the injury) and we’ll have to figure (it) out as the season unwinds a little bit and we get more pictures and x-rays and film on all of that,” Mastroeni said.
St. Ledger’s status for Saturday in Houston was unknown. If he can’t go, Mastroeni was looking at rookie Joe Greenspan and Jared Watts as potential replacements alongside Bobby Burling in central defense.
Where in the world is Michael Harrington? The 29-year-old fullback has been missing from training for weeks now and hasn’t appeared in a game since July 18.
“(Harrington is) still dealing with an injury and some personal stuff,” Mastroeni said this week.
Mastroeni previously described the injury as plantar fasciitis, but Harrington’s name has not appeared on the injury report. Harrington missed time in June after the birth of his daughter, but no details have been given on the nature of this most recent personal absence.
Harrington’s agency has not returned phone calls seeking additional information.
Captain Sam Cronin declined to comment on Harrington’s situation this week.
Harrington did post a photo on Instagram last week, during the Broncos/Chiefs game.
Charles in Charge. Rapids striker Charles Eloundou was back at training this week after a successful four-game loan spell with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
Eloundou scored two goals and added an assist in his time with the Switchbacks of the USL.
“I’m impressed with his pace and his agility,” . “He’s dangerous and he’s got a nose for the ball.”
The 20-year-old Cameroonian striker was not eligible to continue with the Switchbacks into the playoffs, so he returned to train with the Rapids in Commerce City.
