With their next game not until October 20, the New York Red Bulls have some time off to let tired players get their legs back and to let injured players get back to full health. For Bradley Wright-Phillips and Roy Miller, though, the road to recovery will likely last longer than the break.
Wright-Phillips has been out of action since picking up a hamstring strain in the Red Bulls’ 1-0 win over FC Dallas on Sept. 22, and head coach Mike Petke isn’t optimistic the forward will be back in time to face the Houston Dynamo.
“Bradley is still recovering but potentially could start doing some movement outside in the next couple of days,” Petke said in a conference call on Tuesday. “Nothing’s impossible, but the way I’m taking it is: Until [the doctors] give me that glimmer of hope, I’m counting on him to still be recovering.”
Wright-Phillips has played in five games for the Red Bulls since joining the team on July 24, earning one assist in four starts. Though his recovery is progressing nicely, there’s still a ways to go before he is game fit.
“There’s always a chance, I would assume,” Petke said. “He looks good walking around. He’s going to treatment non-stop. Our medical staff is very good, so they could potentially have him back, but as of now I don’t have that answer yet.”
Petke was even more succinct when asked about Miller’s status. The Costa Rican left back suffered an injury on his Achilles tendon against Chivas USA on August 25.
“Roy is still recovering and not out in the field yet,” Petke said.
The one ray of hope comes from the injured Connor Lade. The Red Bulls sophomore hurt his knee in training early in the season, but after several setbacks seems to be making his way back to fitness.
Lade took part in training on Wednesday.
“Connor is starting to become active,” Petke said. “He’s doing some stuff out in the field. Perhaps there’s a chance maybe he’ll be playing a little more [on Wednesday] when we get back to practice.”
The Red Bulls punched their ticket to the postseason this past weekend off a 2-2 tie against the New England Revolution. Keep tabs on the 2013 MLS Cup Playoff run with this all-in-one playoff hub: Run With Us.
