Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
D.C. United has been dealing with some injury issues in the last four weeks but they received some good news on Monday.
Forward Fabian Espindola returned to full training this week after missing the last four league matches with a medial collateral ligament strain in his right knee. Espindola went down with the knee injury in D.C. United’s 4-2 victory against the Montreal Impact.
Since Espindola went down, D.C. United have continued their strong play this season, going 3-1 and with wins in their last three matches.
D.C. United also provided updates on injured players Jeff Parke and Chris Pontius. While Pontius has returned to light jogging with club training staff, there is no timetable for his return.
In addition, Parke, who hasn’t played since a May 31 match against Sporting Kansas City, is out indefinitely as he deals with migraines.
Here are some more stories from around MLS:
RED BULLS SEND LADE TO COSMOS ON LOAN
The New York Red Bulls proved on Monday that the rivalry between fans of theirs and the New York Cosmos doesn’t extend to the front office.
The Red Bulls announced that they have sent full back Connor Lade to the North American Soccer League’s Cosmos on loan, likely for the rest of the season. The Red Bulls can recall Lade from the loan at any time.
“This loan enables Connor to get some much needed playing minutes in competitive action while also keeping him fresh for the remainder of the 2014 season,” Red Bulls sporting director Andy Roxburgh said in a statement. “We will monitor Connor’s progress as the year proceeds.”
Lade, in his third year in MLS, has found himself farther down the depth chart than he anticipated. The 24-year-old has only made five appearances this season for the Red Bulls, totaling 10 minutes of action.
ANGEL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PLANS
A former Red Bulls legend is planning to call it quits at the end of the year.
Forward Juan Pablo Angel signed a new five-month contract with Atletico Nacional in his native Colombia through December on Sunday and confirmed on his official Twitter account that he would retire from his playing career when the contract ends.
“It is with immense happiness that I communicate an agreement with Atletico Nacional that will allow me to play my last five months of my professional career,” Angel wrote. “These next five months will be full of emotion. Every time I take the pitch it will be a countdown to that finish line I had always hoped would never come. That being said, to live this experience here at home is a perfect close to my career.”
Angel, 38, began his career with Atletico Nacional before moving to River Plate in Argentina. In 2001 he became Aston Villa’s biggest signing at the time, staying their through 2007 before joining the Red Bulls as their second designated player. Angel scored 61 goals for the Red Bulls in MLS play (playoffs included) before moving on to the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA in 2011 and 2012.
Angel returned to Nacional for the 2013 season and managed to score 13 goals in all competitions last season. He’s currently coached by former Red Bulls boss Juan Carlos Osorio.
RED BULLS SIGN FRENCH DEFENDER PERRINELLE
The Red Bulls added some more defensive depth on Monday, signing free agent French defender Damien Perrinelle to a contract.
Perrinelle last played for Istres in France’s Ligue 2 but had been on trial with the Red Bulls for a number of weeks this summer. Perrinelle will be added to the roster upon the approval of his P-1 visa and the receipt of his international transfer certificate.
“We’re very pleased to add Damien to our roster following a successful trial period with the club.” Roxburgh said in a statement. “He’s a versatile defender with good technical quality and he’ll add depth to our squad.”
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What do you think of this news? Glad to see Espindola back in full training? Do you think D.C. United missed him at all? Do you expect Lade to receive plenty of playing time with the Cosmos?
Share your thoughts below.