When Sporting Kansas City opened the Desert Diamond Cup against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday, there were a few absences from the team's lineup. One notable absence appears ready to get back on the field as Graham Zusi nears completion of his offseason rehab that has kept him sidelined for the past three-plus months.
"I actually think I might get some minutes on Saturday," Zusi told Richard Fleming during Wednesday night's Desert Diamond Cup broadcast. "Like Chance [Myers], I'm getting that base fitness back up. It's been so exciting to get back on the field with the guys the last couple of days."
Zusi is Sporting KC's reigning co-Team MVP and is the only player in MLS to register at least five goals and seven assists in each of the past four seasons. The Florida native is a three-time All-Star and featured in all four matches for the U.S. Men's National team at last summer's World Cup in Brazil.
The 28-year-old winger did not participate in any of the team's training sessions during Sporting KC's first stint in Tucson. Instead, he swam and did extra work with the team's athletic trainers to help maintain his fitness while he rehabbed an injury that forced him out of the past two USMNT training camps.
"They have had to tell me to be patient a few times," Zusi said of the team's training staff. "I want to push my body as far as I can, but we still have a bit of time before the season and we have to be smart about it."
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes echoed Zusi's statements in a postgame conference call with reporters.
"He’s been training the last couple days full-on with no problem, so we’re going to try to give him some minutes over here," Vermes said. "Hopefully he feels good and we’ll take it game-to-game."
Sporting Kansas City will play their second match of the Desert Diamond Cup Saturday evening against the Seattle Sounders (9pm CT). The defending Supporters' Shield winners routed FC Tucson 6-0 in their first match of the tournament, while Sporting KC earned a 2-2 draw against the Rapids. SKCTV's Nate Bukaty and Andy Gruenebaum will broadcast the match live on SportingKC.com.
