PORTLAND, Ore. – A couple of injuries have cropped up for the Portland Timbers in the past week and could prevent the team from being at full health going into Saturday’s season opener at Colorado.
Goalkeeper Troy Perkins hurt a knee while attempting to block a shot by Kenny Cooper, and his availability for Saturday’s game was a toss-up on Thursday.
“Right now, it’s 50-50,” Timbers coach John Spencer said about Perkin's chances of playing.
If Perkins is unavailable for the Timbers on Saturday the team will turn to veteran Adin Brown, who was drafted by third overall in 2000 by the Rapids and has played in both MLS and Europe over the past decade.
Sal Zizzo is also a question mark against the defending MLS Cup champions. The midfielder left last Saturday’s 1-1 preseason tie with the San Jose Earthquakes after falling and injuring his shoulder.
“He’ll be a game-time decision,” Spencer noted.
The Timbers already know they will be without No. 2 overall MLS SuperDraft choice Darlington Nagbe, who underwent minor surgery for a sports hernia on March 4. Nagbe was expected to miss 2-4 weeks and should be re-joining the team soon.
The other major injury that affected the team in the preseason was forward Bright Dike’s ruptured Achilles tendon. Dike was hurt during the Timbers’ first preseason outing against the Ventura County Fusion. The 24-year-old is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2011 season.
