CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Keane and Todd Dunivant were back at LA Galaxy practice on Thursday, just a one day before the team leaves on their upcoming three-game, nine-day road trip.
The fact that they were back on the field is a major boost for the Galaxy as they look to get healthier as a team. Whether or not they’ll play on Saturday against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, however is a different matter altogether.
Both players underwent their first day of training on Thursday after missing LA’s last two matches due to injury. Each player suffered their respective injury –Keane’s a left ankle injury and Dunivant’s left leg strain—during LA’s 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on April 20.
“I feel good. It was my first day of training today. I wasn’t scheduled for today, it was tomorrow, but I felt good and I wanted to carry on,” said Keane, who also noted that he was not close to being ready for LA’s last two matches. “I’ve only literally started doing running around two days ago and I’ve been doing a lot of stuff in the gym.”
In Keane’s stead, the Galaxy have relied on a youthful assortment of forwards as Homegrown forwards Jack McBean and Jose Villarreal have taken turns starting alongside 2013 MLS SuperDraft first round selection Charlie Rugg.
READ: Charlie Rugg confident after scoring to seal 2-0 LA Galaxy victory in MLS debut
As he continues to improve, Keane is quick to mention that an appearance in Saturday is “not realistic” as he “probably won’t be traveling,” but he has targeted LA’s clash against the Philadelphia Union (Wednesday, May 15, 4:30 p.m. PT, BROADCAST) to make his return to action as well as Sunday’s match against the New York Red Bulls. (May 19, 10 a.m. PT, BROADCAST)
“If you’re fit to play on Wednesday then you’re fit to play on Sunday,” Keane said. “I’m going to touch wood that nothing happens so as long as I’m fit then I’ll play every game. I’ve been out for a few games and I don’t like missing games.
“It’s frustrating because I love playing,” Keane added about his injury. “I’m not one of these players who like to be sitting in the treatment room or in the gym, I like to be out playing with the balls so it’s been frustrating, but luckily enough it hasn’t been a bad injury.”
Meanwhile in Dunivant’s case, the left back is optimistic that he’ll be in contention for Saturday.
“We’ll see how it goes. You always want to,” said Dunivant, who suffered the injury in the first half of LA’s win over Kansas City. “I’m going to do everything that I can to be available and from there, we’ll make that decision and Bruce will be the ultimate decider."
And Arena, who will ultimately decide if either of the two players can participate on Saturday or in the two east coast matches has no desire to tip his hand one way or the other.
“They’re looking good. Anything is possible,” said Arena. “We’re watching these players and they’re heading back into full fitness so there is no reason to believe that they’re not going to be a choice for one of these games.”
More from Arena out of Thursday's training session
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
