Molino out 6-8 weeks for Crew
Before the Crew plays its first game of the Major League Soccer season, the first major injury has hit the club.
Crew winger Kevin Molino will miss six to eight weeks due to a recurring hamstring injury, the club announced Monday.
Molino, 30, did not travel with the Crew to Managua, Nicaragua, for the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League round-of-16 match against Real Esteli FC. Molino missed a few preseason friendlies because of a hamstring injury throughout preseason.
Signed to a multi-year deal in free
agency after two seasons with Minnesota United, Molino was the projected starter at right wing for the Crew this season. His absence will give more playing time to 22-year-old Costa Rican winger Luis Diaz, who started against Real Esteli and contributed an assist.
Crew coach Caleb Porter said the injury is one that popped up multiple times the past two years when Molino was with Minnesota.
"He had three or four minor ones, and I think what we're seeing with him is he needs a thorough, kind of return-to-play strengthening and address some of the issues he's had in the past that maybe weren't corrected," Porter said.
"These are tricky, these injuries, and we certainly want him in now, but it's really important that we get him right and get that thing strengthened, and we don't want to have a bunch of little hamstring issues this year."
If Molino is out the full eight weeks, he will miss the first seven league games and the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. He also would not make his MLS debut until June 19, in the final game at Crew Stadium after the league's two-week break in early June.
Molino arguably was the best winger in MLS last season. Before he scored four goals in three playoff games for Minnesota, his nine goals ranked thirdbest among all MLS wingers, and he added two assists.
Injury history is a concern with Molino, who has missed two seasons due to
ACL tears, but his past two seasons in Minnesota were evidence that issues with his knees are behind him.
In addition to Diaz and Derrick Etienne Jr., who played at right back against Real Esteli but can play either the left or right winger position, the Crew is working new attacking midfielder Alexandru Matan into the group this week.
Matan will play primarily in the No. 10 position behind Lucas Zelarayan, but the 21-year-old Romanian is expected to play some at winger as well.
However, Porter said Matan won't start training with the team until Saturday at the earliest, meaning he likely won't be available until the Champions League quarterfinal in two weeks at the earliest.
Notable injury updates
Porter said that Darlington Nagbe and Etienne are doubtful for Thursday's second leg against Real Esteli and could miss Sunday's MLS opener against Philadelphia Union.
Nagbe, who left the first leg against Real Esteli early with an apparent leg injury, had an MRI on Monday. Porter said the club does not expect the injury to be serious.
Porter said Etienne has a sprained ankle. With a bye week after the MLS opener, the expectation is for both midfielders to return no later than the next game after this weekend, which would be the Champions League quarterfinal April 27, 28 or 29. jmyers@dispatch.com @_jcmyers