After being sidelined for three weeks, David Beckham has recovered from an ankle injury and could make his return to action for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday when they take on the Colorado Rapids.
Beckham resumed training this week and is on the verge of returning to action after missing the team's past two MLS victories against the Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC. His return will present some difficult decisions for head coach Bruce Arena as he decides who to remove from a lineup that has been outstanding in recent weeks.
Marcelo Sarvas and Christian Wilhelmsson have both been playing well for the Galaxy, and either of them could wind up making way for Beckham. Sarvas has formed a solid partnership with fellow Brazilian in central midfield, while Wilhelmsson has provided a solid wing option.
Here are some other MLS items as we head into the weekend's league action:
SOUMARE OUT FOR THE SEASON
Philadelphia Union defender Bakary Soumare will miss the remainder of the regular season after undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery to fix swelling and lingering pain in the same knee he had surgically repaired earlier in the year. Soumare confirmed to SBI on Thursday that his surgery went well and that he was indeed finished for the 2012 season.
Soumare played in one match for the Union since joining the team this summer. The Union traded a first-round pick and allocation money to the Vancouver Whitecaps to secure the services of the former MLS Best XI defender, but Soumare's knee did not respond well as he worked to regain fitness in time to play for the Union.
GAUDETTE BATTLING BACK INJURY
New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Bill Gaudette is battling a back injury that could force him to miss the team's upcoming match on Saturday against Toronto FC.
Gaudette missed Red Bulls training on Thursday, and if he can't overcome the injury the Red Bulls could hand Luis Robles his first start since joining the team via lottery this summer.
Gaudette took over as the Red Bulls starting goalkeeper after rookie standout Ryan Meara was lost to a hip injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery.
MARQUEZ TO MISS TWO WEEKS
Rafa Marquez only recently made his return from a lengthy injury absence, but a hamstring injury suffered in last Saturday's draw against New England will cost the Mexican star another two weeks.
The Red Bulls stated earlier in the week that Marquez would miss the team's upcoming matches against Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire. The absence just might be a blessing for a team that had too many central midfield options, which led head coach Hans Backe to move the team's most consistent midfielder, Dax McCarty, to the unfamiliar role of right wing.
With Marquez sidelined, the Red Bulls are likely to trot out a central midfield tandem of McCarty and Tainio, though Tainio's recent form has been disappointing.
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Who do you see Arena benching to make room for Beckham? Think we'll see Soumare with the Union in 2013? Who would you start in central midfield for the Red Bulls?
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