Photo by Eric Bolte/USA Today Sports

 

By DAN KARELL

The Montreal Impact’s latest star signing, Didier Drogba, is ready to make his debut this weekend.

The club announced on their Twitter account on Monday afternoon that Drogba will be in the game day squad for the Impact’s match against the Philadelphia Union this Saturday at Stade Saputo. Drogba, 37, was signed on July 27 and was introduced to fans on August 5.

Drogba hasn’t played since the final day of the English Premier League season, when he started and played 30 minutes for Chelsea before title celebrations kicked off.

It’s unclear whether Drogba will start vs. the Union or come off the bench for his first MLS appearance.

Here are some more stories to catch you up around MLS:

KORB DONE FOR THE SEASON WITH TORN ACL

D.C. United has lost a piece of their vaunted back four.

The club confirmed that right back Chris Korb suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during D.C. United’s 3-1 defeat to New York City FC last Thursday. Korb had made 18 appearances this season, with 17 starts, and alongside Steve Birnbaum, Bobby Boswell, and Taylor Kemp, he had helped D.C. United to first place in the Eastern Conference.

Former MLS All-Star Shaun Franklin is the most likely candidate to replace Korb in the starting lineup since Franklin returned from injury.

MERAM RECALLED TO IRAQ SQUAD

Justin Meram is heading back to Iraq this fall.

The veteran MLS midfielder has been included in a 41-man preliminary squad, with 26 domestic players and 14 foreign-based players, ahead of a friendly match against Lebanon on August 26 and a pair of World Cup qualifiers in September.

Iraq faces Chinese Taipei at home on September 3 before heading out east to Thailand for a match on September 8. Both matches are part of the second round of World Cup qualifying in the Asian Football Confederation.

Meram has represented the Lions of Mesopotamia ten times, including five appearances at the Asian Cup last January in Australia.

STEWART RULED OUT WITH TORN ACHILLES

The San Jose Earthquakes can begin the search for a new left back for the rest of the season.

The Earthquakes announced that Jordan Stewart will miss the rest of the year after suffering a torn achilles tendon in the Earthquakes 1-0 defeat last Friday against the Colorado Rapids.

Stewart, 33, appeared in 14 matches for the club this season, starting 13.

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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Drogba starting on Saturdyay? How do you see Korb’s injury affecting D.C. United’s title run?

Share your thoughts below.