PORTLAND, Ore. – Thorns FC left back Meghan Klingenberg is expected to rejoin practice in the coming days, having missed two sessions last week while treating an ankle injury carried over from international duty.
Klingenberg, who was also dealing with an illness during her January U.S. Women's National Team call-up, revealed on Feb. 19 that an ankle problem had limited her during the U.S.’ annual January session.
Earlier that day, Klingenberg was able to take part in most of the Thorns’ first preseason training but finished the session on the side, stretching. Over the rest of the week, the 74-time capped U.S. international was held out of practice as she recovered from treatment on her injured ankle.
“She was still suffering from the knock she gained at [U.S. women’s national team January],” Portland head coach Mark Parsons confirmed, emphasizing Klingenberg’s injury is not serious. “She trained at the beginning of the week, and then we decided to keep her off it for two sessions. She’ll build back up this week.”
The Thorns do not open the 2018 NWSL regular season until March 24, and their first full action of the preseason is scheduled for March 11 against the Chicago Red Stars. Given that horizon, the team is being cautious with Klingenberg, just as they were with other minor injuries that surfaced in week one.
Among those that missed time or had to train on the side last week were Midge Purce, Tyler Lussi and Meg Morris. Celeste Boureille, returning mid-week from Australia, was also given a lighter load, all in the name of slowly building players’ bases into regular season form.
For Klingenberg, last week’s treatment was part of that process. The next step, if that treatment went well? A return to the field.
