CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy forward Jack McBean continued his road to recovery on Wednesday with his first full training session with the team since suffering a fractured left clavicle in LA’s 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on April 27.
McBean has been on the shelf since in April after undergoing surgery to repair the fracture, which he suffered in a collision with RSL defender Nat Borchers. However, since his injury, McBean has been steadily returning to fitness and on Wednesday made his first real step toward game action.
“I feel good,” McBean told LA Galaxy Insider following his first full day of training. “I've been working pretty hard to get back, but since the guys were on a road trip, I couldn’t really train too much, but I got cleared yesterday for contact so that’s good.”
Throughout his absence, McBean been a frequent sight on the LA training ground doing fitness work, but with his first day of full contact training complete, the 18-year-old is hopeful of earning minutes off the bench in Saturday’s Reserve League match against the Los Angeles Blues.
“I've been mostly keeping my legs fit, so lot of running and a lot of bike,” said McBean. “Not much upper body stuff yet, but I started lifting two days ago so I'm getting that back now too. Injuries happen and I'm just lucky that it wasn't my knee or something else.”
The injury came at a difficult time for McBean, who had started five consecutive league games prior to his injury and had notched a goal and two assists in seven league appearances. During the match against RSL, McBean enjoyed one of the finest games of his young career as he helped create LA’s second goal of the night before suffering the injury in the 53rd minute.
Although it was difficult for the teenage forward to sit due to injury, the Galaxy are eager to welcome him back.
“It’s probably the worse feeling that you can have as an athlete to be on a stationary bike for six weeks,” said associate head coach Dave Sarachan. “I know that he’s excited to be back and we'reexcited to have him back too because when he left us he was doing well.”
One question remains about McBean’s recovery however. With so much of McBean’s game depending on initiating contact with defenders will he shy from hits as he looks to recover? Not a chance says the teenage forward.
“It’s mostly mental for me. It’s all in my head. Doctors clear you for a reason and they don’t clear you if you're not ready to take a hit,” said McBean. “I just have to get a good lick and I’ll be fine.”
