Red Bulls coach Mike Petke said injured defender Jamison Olave is improving and Roy Miller is better than expected; but he wasn’t ready to proclaim the former read to play this Saturday against archrival D.C. United.
“Olave is doing good. Whether he’ll be a part of the game this weekend is still up in the air, but there’s still a chance,’’ said Petke, who added the big Colombian centerback is hopeful of training partially tomorrow at practice. “I don’t want to give a percentage, but there is a chance he could be available this weekend.”
Olave suffered a strained quadriceps on August 18 and was expected to miss 10-to-12 days. Left back Roy Miller suffered an Achilles injury in Sunday’s disappointing 3-2 loss at Chivas USA, and was undergoing testing this afternoon.
“Rot Miller is better than we thought. He’s at the hospital right now getting an MRI on his Achillies. There’s nothing ruptured. He just got stepped on, and he didn’t feel right.’’
Second-year pro Connor Lade was also feeling pain in his knee.
“His knee he is feeling something and I believe that he is at the hospital right now getting looked at by our doctor,” said Petke. “I don’t think that all three are very, very serious:Â It’s a matter of how Olave and Miller recover.”
With Brandon Barklage struggling at times, Petke had experimented with centerback Markus Holgerson playing right back. But the injury to Olave has not only forced Holgerson back inside, but left the Red Bulls dangerously thin at centerback, with teenage rookie Matt Miazga the only other natural centerback on the bench.