BRADENTON, Fla. – Health is of paramount importance during preseason, so it’s no surprise that the New England Revolution are taking a cautious approach with a quartet of injured players.
Juan Agudelo, Krisztián Németh, Mark Segbers and Gabriel Somi are all carrying minor knocks, but the good news is that all four should be back to full strength sooner rather than later.
Agudelo, who spent just shy of three weeks with the U.S. National Team during the annual January camp, picked up a minor injury in his first training session with the Revs in Bradenton, Fla. Head coach Brad Friedel said Agudelo is “working very hard” to make his return, which is “days, not weeks” away.
Németh has missed the Revolution’s first two preseason matches against the New York Red Bulls and Malmo FF, but Friedel said he’s progressing from the injury he suffered early last week.
Segbers, a first-round SuperDraft pick (9th overall) this year, has also missed the first two preseason matches, but is expected to return to full training in the next couple days as he resumes his quest to secure a spot on the Revolution roster.
Somi, who arrived from Europe last weekend, saw 45 minutes of action in the Revs’ first preseason match against the Red Bulls, but was sidelined for Saturday’s meeting with Malmo. Friedel called his injury “a little niggle” that shouldn’t sideline him for more than a day or two.
Antonio Delamea, meanwhile, will rejoin the team in Foxborough after tending to personal matters in Slovenia, while there’s hope that central midfield signing Wilfried Zahibo will be able to join the Revolution “early next week.”