Orlando City’s
Jason Kreis is still evaluating veteran midfielder Justin Mapp.
Justin Mapp has been on trial with Orlando City for almost two weeks now. He first was noticed ahead of the Major League Soccer season opener when he jogged around the pitch with some Lions before the match.
Mapp has trained with the first team every day since, but head coach Jason Kreis wasn’t quite ready to give an assessment this week on whether Mapp can contribute to the team moving forward.
“It’s been interesting,” Kreis said when asked to assess the trialist. “It’s not so much that you bring a guy like Justin in to see what he can do, because you have a pretty solid picture. He’s been around the league long enough to know what he can do. The question is, ‘Is he capable of that right now?’
“He didn’t play really any games last year at all, he was injured basically the entire season, and then he’s had a
very long offseason to try to regain fitness. So, it’s a difficult question to answer, I think, in his particular scenario where he is right now.”
Mapp, 32, is a highlyaccomplished veteran MLS midfielder. He’s spent 15 years in the league, dating to 2002 with D.C. United. He played the bulk of that time in Chicago (2003-2010) and also spent time with the Philadelphia Union (2010-11), Montreal Impact (2012-15) and Sporting Kansas City, where he made six appearances before his option was declined at the end of 2016.
Sporting Kansas City signed Mapp as a free agent after an elbow injury ended his 2015 season with the Impact. He struggled with various injuries last year as well, playing just 43 minutes spread across six games.
Prior to the setbacks, Mapp was one of the most reliable wingers in the league, playing 20 or more matches in 10 of his MLS seasons. His accomplishments include wining a Supporters Shield (2003), two U.S. Open Cups (2003, 2006) and two Canadian Championships (2013-14). He also was a MLS All-Star in 2005.
Higuita ready
Cristian Higuita spent the past four weeks recovering from an adductor strain and said Thursday he “feels pretty good.”
The 23-year-old midfielder matured with Orlando City the past two seasons as an integral part of the defensive midfield when healthy. He also struggled with injuries last season, missing games due to groin and hamstring injuries.
Emotional, dogged performances garnered recognition but also sometimes put the team at risk, as he led Orlando City in yellow cards the last two seasons.
Higuita finished 2016 with 16 starts in 21 appearances. He also scored a goal and an assist.
Standing in front of media Thursday, however, Higuita displayed a more confident, comfortable and composed demeanor than in years past.
“I think maturity comes with time,” he said through a translator. “I think I’ve grown a lot. I’m a very emotional person. I don’t like losing games. I know my teammates don’t like losing games, but I, personally, am very emotional about that. But I feel good, mentally and physically.”
Rivas trains
Striker Carlos Rivas was on the training field Thursday, participating in positioning exercises with Orlando City’s starters.
Rivas worried he pulled a hamstring earlier this week, but scans showed no muscle injury. He was in pain, so the technical staff is being cautious and treating him for an injury and he did not train in full.
He will train Friday and be re-evaluated after the session before the staff makes a decision on his availability for the Lions’ match Saturday against the Philadelphia Union, according to a club spokesman.
When Rivas left training earlier this week, UCF product Hadji Barry stepped into his role alongside Cyle Larin.
“The question is, ‘Is he capable of that right now?’ ” Orlando City coach Jason Kreis