CARSON, Calif. – Swedish midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson is questionable for Sunday’s match against the Colorado Rapids due to a nagging muscle strain.
Wilhelmsson was listed on the club’s injury report on Friday with a left calf strain that has caused him to miss the last two training sessions. On Friday, the Swede was busy receiving treatment in the Galaxy training room during the club’s penultimate training session before traveling to Colorado.
Following practice on Friday, head coach Bruce Arena said Wilhelmsson was “fine” but was not sure if the Swede would participate or make the trip to Colorado.
However, if the Swede is unable to play, Galaxy captain Landon Donovan said that he doubts LA’s midfield will miss a beat even without Wilhelmsson.
“He looks like he got banged up a little bit, we’ll see,” said Donovan. “We’ve developed a really, really deep team so there’s a lot of guys that can step up if he can’t play.”
BECKHAM EXPECTING TO PARTICIPATE IN COLORADO
The Galaxy may not have Christian Wilhelmsson on the field on Sunday, but it is exceedingly likely that they’ll be able to call upon David Beckham for their clash against the Colorado Rapids.
Beckham has been a constant fixture on the Galaxy training ground this week and while he remains listed as questionable due to the left ankle sprain that caused him to miss LA’s last three matches; he is hopeful that he can participate on Sunday.
“I’m getting there,” said Beckham. “It’s obviously difficult being out a few weeks and coming back, but I’ve had a good week of training and I should be okay for this weekend.”
But even if he is confident that he can play on Sunday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, going a full 90 minutes may be another matter altogether.
“We have to wait and see,” Beckham said. “Obviously, you have to build it up again and judge how I feel during the game and what Bruce and the physios think. Hopefully I can play 90, but with the altitude and it is my first game back after three-and-half weeks… I hope that I can do it.”
ARENA UNCONCERNED ABOUT SEEDING PROCESS
With a little help of the Puerto Rico Islanders, the Galaxy were able to accomplish one of their main goals for 2012 without even playing a minute.
Due to the Islanders 3-0 victory over Isidro Metapán, the Galaxy clinched the top spot in Group 5 of the CONCACAF Champions League, earning a spot in the quarterfinal stage of the tournament. LA’s job is not finished, however, as they must close out the group stage on Oct. 25 with a match against Metapán in El Salvador.
VIEW: CCL Schedule
The match, while meaningless in the group standings, will help determine where LA is placed in the seeding process that will determine the rankings for the quarterfinals.
“It’s very nice to qualify,” said midfielder Rafael Garcia, who has started the last two CCL matches. “Now we just have to do the work over there and take care of business in El Salvador. We know that the whole seeding process will benefit us in the long run, but we’re thinking about going out there and getting a win.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
