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Orlando City coach Jason Kreis on Thursday said he expects to have his full complement of players back by the end of the month, doubling down on what he said before Orlando City’s match against Minnesota United.
Attacking midfielder Josué Colmán (quad contusion) on Thursday trained with other members of the club – including midfielder Dillon Powers (ankle) – while a separate group worked on set pieces. Striker Dom Dwyer (quad strain) was not training with the club while media members had access to Thursday’s session.
Both Colmán and Dwyer trained with the club on Wednesday. Until that point, they’d been working on drills away from the team during periods of training sessions open to members of the media.
Holding midfielder Uri Rosell (fitness) trained separately from the rest of the team. He will not be available for this weekend’s match, according to team officials.
Orlando City doesn’t have a match next weekend – after NYCFC, the club next takes the pitch on March 31 at home against the New York Red Bulls.
“We believe that, really, all of our players at the moment are on track to be fully fit and ready to go by the end of the month,” Kreis said. “Of course, maybe we’ll have a player or two that’ll be a week shorter, we’ll have a player or two that’ll be a week later, but that’s our objective and we’re still on track.”
Kreis said he hasn’t received an update regarding Stéfano Pinho (ankle) as of Thursday morning, but added, “looks to us like it’s going to be a while.”
Allen excited for return to Yankee Stadium
Right back RJ Allen spent the first three years of his MLS career with NYCFC, racking up 3,814 minutes with the club before being traded in January to Orlando City.
He said there will definitely be some emotions when he returns to Yankee Stadium for Orlando City’s 3:30 p.m. match against NYCFC.
Allen has made two appearances as a substitute in Orlando City’s first two matches. He came on for Scott Sutter both times.
“Obviously, it’s a place where I spent quite some time,” he said. “I’m definitely looking forward to returning there and playing in a match for this club. They’re a good side and it’s definitely going to be a good challenge for us.
“At the end of the day, that’s behind me. That team, that club is in the past. It’s a part of me. Now it’s a new future and I have a lot to be excited about. I’m really looking forward to playing for this club.”