WASHINGTON –D.C. United should get a much-needed boost this weekend in the form of a healthy Charlie Davies and a defensive line back together for the first time since the season opener.
Davies, who skipped last weekend's 4-1 drubbing against the Colorado Rapids while nursing a groin injury, said this week that he sat the game out for precautionary reasons and will be ready when DC host the LA Galaxy on Saturday night (7:30 pm ET, Direct Kick, MatchDay Live).
Davies leads the team in scoring with three goals in two matches this season.
“I felt like I needed a couple of extra days because I felt a little soreness and didn’t want to take an unnecessary risk," Davies said, "which would be playing one game in 35-degree weather with a chance to end up missing a long period of time.”
The central back pairing of Dejan Jakovic and rookie Perry Kitchen should also be ready to go for the first time since the March 19 win over Columbus. Jakovic missed the Rapids match while serving a red card suspension and Kitchen was away on international duty with the US Under-20 national team in Guatemala.
Kitchen trained with the club on Friday after the Americans were bounced from CONCACAF Championships on Wednesday in Guatemala City.
“He looks fine, he’s a young kid. I’m sure he’ll be fine,”head coach Ben Olsen said of Kitchen. “Physically if we want him to start, I would have no problem doing that.”
Added Kitchen: “If Benny needs me I’ll definitely be ready,” Kitchen said.
Midfielder Clyde Simms is also expected to return to the DC mix after overcoming a calf strain.
Because Wednesday night’s US Open Cup play-in game against Philadelphia went to penalties, several players had to log 120 minutes. While United trotted out a mixture of reserves and possible starters for that one, players like Branko Boskovic Joseph Ngwenya, and Andy Najar played the whole game.
Olsen indicated that there weren’t any major concerns about having to bench anyone Saturday because of the demands of playing that long.
“I think we’re okay,” he said. “Everyone came out of that pretty good.”
Defender Rodrigo Brasesco, meanwhile, is still struggling with a groin injury picked up in the game against Philadelphia, and Jed Zayner’s hamstring problem has yet to clear up, although the team will monitor him before the game. If he can’t go, it would mean a third straight start for rookie Chris Korb.
