Photo by ISIphotos.com
BY ADAM SERRANO
CARSON, CALIF.- With only a week left before the start of the season, Chivas USA received a very welcome addition on Friday.
Zach Thornton who won the 2009 MLS Goalkeeper of the year returned to training this week. Thornton spent the last month rehabbing a strained left hip flexor. Thornton was heavily involved in the 6 on 6 mini scrimmages as he prepares for the start of the season. Fresh off the injury, Thornton looks set to start in the club's final exhibition against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
"It feels good to come back to the team, I'm feeling healthy and I'm happy to be in this new system around our guys," said Thornton. We had a lot of good results last year under Preki and I'm sure that we'll have even more success under Martin."
As new coach Martin Vasquez prepares for the club's first game next week, the coach affirmed that some questions still need to be answered about the goalkeeper position.
"It's only his first week back with the club and we're happy to have him back on the field, but it is only his first week on the field," said Vasquez. "We still need to discuss the position with the coaching staff and go with who we feel is sharpest at the start of the season."
A 13 year veteran, Thornton had a career-high numbers with 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals-against average – leading the league in each category.
"The best way to look at that award was it was last season, I need to come out and work with the same intensity this season."
TALLEY TO BE WAIVED
A team source confirmed to SBI on Friday that Defender Carey Talley will be waived by the club. The defender has been absent from training as of late and is likely to be waived in the near future. A defensive mainstay under former Head Coach Preki, Talley appears to be surplus to requirements for Martin Vasquez's new Chivas USA side.
An 11-year MLS veteran, Talley made 27 appearances for Chivas USA in 2009.