UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The health of the Red Bulls’ most important acquisition in club history remains up in the air, but there is reason to hope that Thierry Henry will be healthy and fit for the match at Columbus on Saturday.
Henry, who told the media after Saturday’s 1-0 season-opening win over Seattle that he injured his hamstring early in the match, still managed to put in a full 90 minutes for New York. The former French international has been bothered with injuries since signing as a Designated Player last July.
WATCH: Highlights: NY 1, SEA 0
On Tuesday, Henry did not practice with his teammates, instead staying behind at the team’s facility for treatment. Before his teammates arrived back at Montclair State University from training – the team utilized a field in Newark due to wet conditions – Henry walked out from the team’s practice facility with no signs of any injuries.
“He still has a bit of that issue with the hamstring,” head coach Hans Backe told MLSsoccer.com. “It’s coming along, doing well. He said at halftime [of the Seattle game] that he had hurt himself early in the match but that he wanted to stay in for five or 10 minutes longer. He was fine.”
The injury happened to Henry shortly before he took and missed a penalty kick in the ninth minute of Saturday’s match. With the Red Bulls set to miss four starters from against the Crew due to international call-ups, the need to get Henry on the field is magnified.
“He should be OK," Backe said. "You never know with these things, but he should be OK. We have to wait till Thursday or Friday to see how he responds to treatment.”
Kristian R. Dyer can be followed at twitter.com/KristianRDyer
