Impact resumes hunt for a playoff spot after two-week break

A two-week break in the schedule wasn’t what the Montreal Impact wanted in the midst of a playoff race, but it at least allowed them to get healthy going into the final stretch of the Major League Soccer season.

Coach Jesse Marsch had all his players on the field for the first time in weeks in training at Saputo Stadium on Thursday, including midfielder Justin Mapp, who has not played in more than a month because of a hamstring injury.

Marsch said Mapp will be available for a game Saturday night in Chicago.

“The trainers have an easy job now,” Marsch said. “There’s not anyone who is not healthy.

“A couple of guys aren’t at 100 per cent, but I think everyone will be available for the weekend. Justin Mapp will be available. I don’t think he’s ready to give 90 minutes, but we’ll figure out a way to use him in some capacity.”

The first team in practice had Nelson Rivas and Alessandro Nesta in central defence, with Matteo Ferrari and Hassoun Camara as the fullbacks. Patrice Bernier and Collin Warner were behind Davy Arnaud, Felipe Martins and Sanna Nyassi in the midfield, with Marco Di Vaio up front.

Bernier was back after helping Canada split back-toback games against Panama in World Cup qualifying. Camara is set to return from a two-game suspension.

The 12-14-3 Impact last played on Sept. 1 in Columbus, a 2-1 setback on a goal in stoppage time. That ended a five-game winning streak that had buoyed their hopes of reaching the playoffs in their first MLS season.

They have since dropped to seventh place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind Columbus for the fifth and final playoff spot. They have five games left in the regular season to mount a charge.

Chicago (14-8-5) is in second place after a 2-1 win over Toronto FC on Wednesday night.

“We’ve talked a lot about what the ends of games look like,” said Marsch, whose team has won only twice on the road this season. “Even (Wednesday), it looked like Toronto was done and they were able to mount an effort and make it interesting.”