The most talked about player in Major League Soccer could return to the field in Vancouver this weekend.
Whitecaps midfielder Alphonso Davies missed three games as negotiations took place over his record-breaking US$22-million transfer to Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga, but the 17-year-old was back in B.C. for training with his teammates on Thursday.
Whether heB次元官网网址檒l be in the starting lineup when the B次元官网网址楥aps (7-9-5) take on Minnesota United (11-9-1) at B.C. Place on Saturday remains to be seen.
Vancouver coach Carl Robinson said Davies hasnB次元官网网址檛 trained much in the past week and a half, so he may not be ready physically or mentally.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l see. If heB次元官网网址檚 full of energy, IB次元官网网址檓 sure heB次元官网网址檒l be involved. If heB次元官网网址檚 not, IB次元官网网址檓 sure heB次元官网网址檒l be off the bench,B次元官网网址� Robinson said.
Either way, SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 game will be crucial for Vancouver and Minnesota alike. Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot, currently sitting below the cut-off in the Western Conference and separated by two points in the standings.
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United have won their last three league matches, but the Whitecaps are coming off the high of punching their ticket to the Canadian Championship final with a 2-0 (2-1 aggregate) victory over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday.
Whitecaps captain Kendall Waston said it was a much-needed win after three losses in a row, including two league games and a tournament match.
He added keeping Montreal from scoring a single goal was especially important.
B次元官网网址淭he focus was there. So weB次元官网网址檝e got to keep that focus and even more,B次元官网网址� Waston said.
The last time Vancouver was able to post a clean sheet was April 27, when they notched a 2-0 home victory over Real Salt Lake.
Keeping the ball out of the back of the net has been a challenge for the Whitecaps. They sit at the bottom of the Western Conference when it comes to goals against, having been scored on 42 times this season.
For Vancouver, stopping MinnesotaB次元官网网址檚 offence will require finding a way to corral Darwin Quintero. The 30-year-old midfielder has tallied six goals in UnitedB次元官网网址檚 last five games.
Robinson said Quintero is dangerous but every team in the league has strong players that can score.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 more focused on our boys and what Yordy (Reyna) does and what The Bug (Cristian Techera) does and Brek Shea, who I thought was terrific (on Wednesday),B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l focus on what we can do.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver will be without midfielder Efrain Juarez for the match.
The MLS disciplinary committee announced Friday that it suspended Vancouver Juarez an additional two games (three games total) and issued an additional undisclosed fine for aggressive behaviour toward a match official during the 77th minute of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 match against Seattle Sounders FC on July 21.
Juarez, who originally received a red card for his actions, was slated to serve his red-card suspension against Minnesota United FC, with his additional two-games being VancouverB次元官网网址檚 next regular season matches on Aug. 4 against New York City FC and Aug. 11 against the Portland Timbers.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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