Vytas will miss Sunday’s fixture (Photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika)
Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter vowed to improve the team’s depth in the off-season. On Sunday, we’ll see the early returns on that push as Portland heads to Carson, CA to play the LA Galaxy at 4 p.m. PST on Fox Sports 1.
Having “starter caliber depth at positions eleven to eighteen” was a mandate heading into 2017, given from the triumvirate of Porter, G.M. Gavin Wilkinson, and President and C.E.O. Merritt Paulson. In some cases that meant retaining players also getting established veterans like Jeff Attinella and Roy Miller. The mandate also meant calling up players from the team’s USL squad to the mothership.
Among the latter group is Marco Farfan, the homegrown left back who will be making his MLS debut on Sunday. In comments this week, Porter was quick to say that Farfan has earned the spot on Sunday, stating Farfan has earned Porter’s trust.
February 9th: Preseason Tournament between Portland Timbers v Real Salt Lake at Providence Park, Portland, OR.
The 18-year-old will be starting due to a calf injury sustained by Vytas this week in training. Of the 40 game season of 2015, the back line tandem of Powell, Nat Borchers, Ridewell, and Jorge Villafana each started no fewer than 37 matches. That incredible luck was not present in 2016 and does not appear to be carrying over to 2017 either.
Vytas will be out seven to ten days. Vytas might also be joined on the IR by Alvas Powell and Liam Ridgewell. Both are day-to-day according to the team.
Valentin may replace Powell on Saturday.
Zarek Valentin will be the likely candidate to replace Powell. Should Ridgewell not go, expect his role to go to Roy Miller, the former Saprissa back who began training with the team on Tuesday.
While not ideal, Porter reminded the media on Thursday that Miller is 90 minutes fit and plays a “plug and play” position. Miller won’t need an adjustment period to the league being a veteran of the Thierry Henry-era New York Red Bulls.
Will Diego Valeri and Co. be able to win the possession battle in LA? (Photo by Diego G Diaz/ProstAmerika)
But, Porter stressed, don’t be surprised if Miller is confined to the 18 with Ridgewell playing through his foot strain.
“We knew at some point in the season we’d have to face injuries,” Porter said. “But we built this team in a way that we have strong depth.”
“So it’s next guy in. We’re not going to miss a beat.”
Portland
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