CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Rogers needs extended minutes if he’s going to return to the Rogers of old and it seems at long last, he'll be able to log an extended shift for the LA Galaxy in Saturday’s Reserve League match against the USL PRO’s Los Angeles Blues.
Rogers confirmed in training on Thursday that he is expected to start on Saturday as he continues to his return to full fitness. The appearance will be Rogers’ first Reserve league match for LA and his fifth appearance across all competitions.
The 26-year-old midfielder has begun to show flashes of his former self, like a step-over fueled run that led to a Landon Donovan shot wide of goal in LA’s 3-1 defeat to Real Salt Lake last week, but he understands that he needs more minutes if he’s going to progress.
“Hopefully, I'll go as much as I can 60 or 70 minutes before my calves start to cramp. I wish that I can get fit more quickly, but I'm still a ways away,” said Rogers, who has played 56 minutes in three MLS appearances to date. “I need to get 60 or 70 minutes to really push myself. It’s about doing that and being exhausted after that. It’s tracking back and being able to do that again. I'm a winger and that’s my job.”
