Brazilian center back Leonardo is expected to be a “candidate to play” in the Western Conference Championship first leg against Seattle Sounders FC according to LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena, but that does not mean that the defender will be in the starting XI come Sunday.
The 26-year-old defender left Galaxy’s 5-0 victory over Real Salt Lake in their Western Conference Semifinal second leg with a right hamstring strain that has prevented him from training with the club since. However, following training on Tuesday, Arena noted that Leonardo and fellow injured defenders Todd Dunivant (groin) and James Riley “are candidates to play” on Sunday.
But despite his initial optimism, Arena did state that the unpredictability of hamstring injuries will continue to make him a doubt until the Brazilian central defender returns to the field.
“There are all different degrees with those things,” said Arena. “Every athlete is different, but hamstrings are hard to figure out until the player goes full tilt which hasn’t happened yet so we don’t know.”
