Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jeff Cassar had a very succinct answer when asked whether his attacking trio of Javier Morales, Joao Plata and Sebastian Jaime would be available on Saturday when RSL hosts New York City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium.
“We’ll see,” he quipped.
The threesome has made tremendous progress in the last few weeks toward returning to the field after injuries have limited them to just nine matches combined from the three of them.
In his six matches, Morales has been RSL’s most consistent offensive threat, garnering two goals and three assists. A groin injury sidelined him for two matches and upon his return he suffered a concussion that has kept him out of action for the last three matches.
Jaime started the first three matches before a bone bruise in his right leg kept him off the field.
After leading the club with 13 goals in 2014, Plata suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal in his foot in the club’s first preseason training session.
This week, they have been more involved as they get closer to contributing to RSL’s offense again, though Cassar is taking a cautious approach.
“Practicing for two days full strength doesn’t mean you’re available. It does mean you’re getting close. There’s got to be fitness involved. There are a lot of things involved,” Cassar said. “It’s not just about getting them back to play one game. It’s about getting them back to play the rest of the season because it’s a long season.”
RSL faces NYCFC on Saturday at 8 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium before a pair of road games next week against the LA Galaxy on Wednesday and Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 30.
