:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53585085/usa_today_9499189.0.jpg)
On Saturday, the Revolution will return to Gillette Stadium for the first time in five months. And Lee Nguyen may miss the party.
The newly-minted forward suffered an ankle contusion during Saturday’s match against the Colorado Rapids and exited after just 57 minutes of action. Revolution gaffer Jay Heaps opened up about the injury on Tuesday, describing Nguyen as “day-to-day.”
Jay Heaps classified the injured Lee Nguyen (ankle contusion) as "day-to-day." "We'll see as the week goes on." #NERevs
— Jeff Lemieux (@jeff_lemieux) March 7, 2017
Nguyen bruised his ankle during the first half of Saturday’s match but was able to play though the pain. A second blow to his ankle—sustained early in the second half—knocked him out of the match for good.
If Nguyen does not recover in time for Saturday’s home opener vs. Orlando City SC, Heaps will need to make an adjustment to his Starting XI. Teal Bunbury represents the likeliest candidate to replace Nguyen, though Heaps could turn to Femi Hollinger-Janzen—who made just one start last season—instead. Heaps may also consider moving Juan Agudelo, who featured as an attacking midfielder against the Rapids, into a forward position, where he featured in 2016.
Though Nguyen would be missed, Orlando City will enter Saturday’s contest with injury concerns of its own. Brazilian midfielder Kaka will miss at least six weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Lions’ season opener. And midfielder Tony Rocha and defenders Rafael Ramos and Kevin Alston have all been ruled out of Saturday’s match while recovering from hamstring injuries of their own.
The last time the Revs squared off with Orlando City, Nguyen, Kaka and Alston all featured in the Starting XI, with Kaka collecting an 83rd-minute assist that put the match away.
To view the latest injury report for the Revolution, Orlando City SC and rest of MLS, visit mlssoccer.com/injuries.