Jimenez ready to go on short notice
Hector Jimenez began his Major League Soccer career on a 2011 Los Angeles Galaxy team with considerable depth, enough to win the MLS Cup that season.
A deep collection of talent meant plenty of opportunities for Jimenez, selected 34th overall in the MLS SuperDraft, to learn from veterans. Gregg Berhalter, then a player-assistant coach with the Galaxy, was one.
The deep roster also meant limited playing time. Jimenez, now a midfielder/defender with Crew SC, played just 115 minutes over two games in a rookie season that required plenty of patience.
“Gregg was going into his last year there, so part of that was him helping me out, being patient and just waiting for my opportunity,” Jimenez said.
Now a veteran, Jimenez again finds himself waiting for an opportunity. But he’s more prepared for the moment when it does come. The 28-year-old has twice filled in at right back for Harrison Afful this season on short notice, once when Afful sliced a nerve in his hand while cooking, and last Saturday when Afful was excused to be with his family after his wife gave birth earlier in the week.
Afful is expected to be available for Wednesday’s game against Toronto FC, but Jimenez will stay on high alert, knowing anything can happen in the middle of the Crew’s stretch of three games in eight days.
“Sometimes it’s tough not knowing if you’re going to start or not, but these guys here, the coaching staff and my teammates, give me their full confidence when my name gets called,” he said.
Artur close to return
Brazilian midfielder Artur could return to full training a little more than two weeks after breaking his left wrist in the opening minute of the Crew's 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls.
The 21-year-old participated in agility drills off to the side during the open portion of Monday’s practice and is expected to return to full training today, Berhalter said.
Mohammed Abu finished the Red Bulls game in Artur’s place and started against NYCFC the following week. Nicolai Naess, who had played only center back to begin the season, played defensive midfielder Saturday against New England.
“When we talk about fitness base, (Artur) was only out a week, so the base is still there,” Berhalter said. “I would say it’s that last explosiveness that maybe you lose a little bit, but we’re topping all that up and he’s making good progress.”