CARSON, Calif. – Barring any setbacks, Robbie Keane will once again be available for selection when the LA Galaxy host the Houston Dynamo on Friday at StubHub Center.
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Keane has missed the past seven games after suffering a groin strain in the late stages of the Galaxy’s loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on April 4. The 34-year-old’s absence is the longest injury layoff the Irish forward has suffered since joining the Galaxy back in 2011.
“I’m feeling very good, looking forward to getting back. It was nice to get back the last two days, back in practice with the lads. So far, so good… No pain, not at the moment,” Keane told reporters after training on Thursday. “We have to see, the next couple of days. [I’m] certainly looking for minutes on Friday. I think you all know me well enough now that I don’t enjoy weekends off. I prefer to be playing.”
During Keane’s absence, the Galaxy attack has been struck in neutral compiling a 2-2-3 record while scoring just six times in seven matches. The Galaxy’s offensive fortunes hit rock bottom last week when the team put forth an anemic performance against Orlando City SC as they suffered a 4-0 defeat to the expansion side.
After watching his team suffer their worst defeat in two years, Keane is quick to note that the time is now for his squad to start rounding into form.
“When you lose four-nil against any team, regardless of who it is, certainly there’s something wrong because as we well know it wasn’t good enough. It’s very important as a group that we stick together and move forward and start getting results on the board,” said Keane. “It happens because we’re the champions people are expecting a lot more from us, and we do ourselves. We know we haven’t been good enough, but the players are looking forward to these coming games and hope get a full squad that’s fit and ready, I think you’ll see a different team.”
As optimistic as Keane is about his availability, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena is not ready to declare Keane fit, however, stating that his status is still in question.
“We’ll see how he reacts to today's training tomorrow and make a decision on whether he can be included in the group,” Arena said.
Keane returns to a team that is currently in the middle of a five-game winless streak, but the Irishman admits that he’s not returning to be a savior. According to the captain, it’s on every member of the LA Galaxy to come together and bust the team out of their slump.
“One player doesn’t change everything. It’s about everyone sticking together. Certainly one player can make a difference, and I believe that I can help the team. There’s no question about that,” Keane said. “But everyone needs to step up now to get the results that this team needs sooner rather than later.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
