RBNY healthy but tired after int'ls return

Rafa Márquez and his teammates returned to the practice field following their 1-0 defeat Saturday.

UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The New York Red Bulls may be a healthy team heading into Saturday match against Colorado – but they're definitely tired. Four regulars missed last weekend’s 1-0 loss at Real Salt Lake while away on national-team duty.


Head coach Hans Backe had all the players back in the fold for Thursday morning’s training session. Goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and left back Roy Miller trained with the team, but midfielders Dane Richards and Rafa Márquez were held out of the session.


“Dane and Rafa were doing rehab,” Backe said. “They were really tired.”


Both Richards and Márquez played twice during their international call-ups, but neither went the full 90 minutes in their respective nations' matches. Backe said that “both of them got some knocks,” but that the winger and the central midfielder will be available against the Rapids on Saturday.


On Tuesday, forward Thierry Henry was held out of practice following a slight injury he picked up at Rio Tinto Stadium. Henry was on the field on Thursday morning, training with the Starting XI and looking relatively healthy and fit. Backe said that his star striker “twisted his knee against Salt Lake,” but it shouldn’t hold him back.


“He said it was OK,” Backe said of Henry’s knee after practice. “He’ll be ready for the full 90 [on Saturday.]”