CARSON, Calif. – Jermaine Jones says he’s 90 percent fit after playing 30 minutes in the LA Galaxy’s friendly against Manchester United last weekend.
Jones made his first appearance Saturday since on May 6 when he suffered an MCL sprain in the Galaxy’s clash with the Chicago Fire. The 35-year-old returned to training earlier this month as he looks to recover his fitness after missing eight matches.
The exercise against United was valuable for the defensive midfielder, but he admits that he’s not back to full strength.
“It’s good to be back after 10 weeks, but it’s still not 100 percent. Sometimes I still feel it. The doctors and everyone say that the time is now to go and get over that pain,” Jones told reporters. “The ligaments have to get used to kicking balls and that kind of stuff. It was a good training game for the players that were injured.”
Head coach Curt Onalfo stated that the short shift on Saturday was a needed progression for Jones, but whether he’ll get an expanded role on Wednesday when the Galaxy host Vancouver Whitecaps FC remains to be seen.
“I don’t know. It’s the coaches’ decision. I’m not 100 percent right now,” Jones said. “I want to go step by step right now. I don’t want to go too early and have to go backward again. It’s important that the team wins and we get three points.”
