Photo by USA Today Sports
By MIKE GRAMAJO
SANFORD, Fla. — Tally Hall is nearing the final stages of fitness with Orlando City since suffering a torn ACL in his right knee last September when he was a member of the Houston Dynamo.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper was traded to Adrian Heath’s expansion side last October, and has since worked rapidly on rehabilitating his right knee in the beginning stages of the 2015 MLS season.
“The last week, and moving into this week I’ve felt strong,” Hall told reporters on Wednesday. “I feel like I’m getting back to my old self. I’m not holding anything back in training, there’s nothing I feel like I can’t do at this point. I feel like I’m at the phase where I’m more focused on getting ready for goalkeeping and not as worried about my knee anymore”
The two-time MLS All-Star praised current starting goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who has taken the role since arriving in Orlando last winter when he was selected in the expansion draft.
“He [Ricketts] continues to be a goalkeeper that’s hard to score on,” Hall said. “He’s an experienced presence in a young team. It’s been phenomenal for the team to have someone like Donovan in goal. It’s fun being a competitor on different teams with him through couple years now, and being teammates and being a competitor on the same team. We’re all fighting for the same spot, and same time we’re all trying to make each other better.”
Hall wouldn’t provide a timeline of his return to the club, but has been seen training with Orlando City goalkeeper coach Marcos Machado within the last month, committing full stretch saves and working alongside the club’s other two backup goalkeepers Earl Edwards Jr. and Josh Ford.
Even though the Lions have endured stretches of disappointment in the start of the season, Hall told reporters he has faith the team will find its identity, while at the same time praising Heath for instilling a passing mindset to the team.
“I’m excited for us in this year,” Hall said. “The way we’ve played, we are going to be one of the best passing teams in the league. Our record isn’t where we want it right now, we’re not good enough. And that’s on us as a team to be better.”
According to team sources, Hall is right on track for his Major League Soccer comeback, but Heath is not rushing his recovery despite what he’s seeing on the practice field.