Orlando City’s Paterson nearing return,
Orlando City forward Martin Paterson was out on the practice field working on some finishing in the six-yard box on Thursday morning.
It has been a while since Paterson was on the field doing any sort of soccer-related activities, and it represented a significant step forward in the veteran’s recovery from a hamstring injury. Paterson injured his hamstring during a preseason game and tweaked it further during training, he said.
“It’s good, it’s positive and just a step in the rehab to coming back,” Paterson said. “It’s the good part of the rehab where I’m close. ... [It has been] super frustrating. It ’s not been nice watching people play games and the atmospheres of the games and seeing how much the games mean to the local folk. I’m happy to be where I am in the rehab, but I’ll be even more happy when I finish it and I’ll be back on the field.”
Paterson is currently with Orlando City on loan from Huddersfield Town in England and showed flashes of his ability to get into dangerous spots during the preseason. The 27-year-old has a stellar goal-scoring record in his career in England, and he was in line to start up top for Orlando City this season before the injury.
The Northern Ireland international did not want to put a specific timeframe on his return, however. “I am very close,” he said. Paterson will certainly factor in for playing time once he’s healthy again. On Sunday in Portland, however, rookie Cyle Larin will get the starting nod, Lions’ coach Adrian Heath con- firmed on Thursday.
“I’m not worried about saying that,” Heath said. “I think the kid’s had a great debut, missed a few chances we know that, but I think he showed us enough to think that he’s going to have a bright future.”
Larin has played 87 minutes in two games so far this season, but Sunday will mark the first career start for the top overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Larin has five shots and two shots on goal this season.
Kickoff against the Timbers is set for 5 p.m. The game will air on ESPN2.
Brazil’s Fabiano linked to Lions
Adding to the many transfer rumors involving Orlando City, Brazilian Luis
Fabiano has been linked with a move to Orlando, according to ESPN Brazil.
Fabiano has spent the past four years with São Paulo in Brazil, but he also spent six seasons with Sevilla in the Spanish La Liga. He also has 28 goals in 45 appearances for Brazil’s national team, including three goals in the 2010 World Cup.
The 34-year-old is one of the most productive finish- ers in recent history for Brazil — and he’s still quite capable of scoring. He connected on 20 goals in 2014 for São Paulo — but there would be significant hurdles to get Fabiano to Orlando.
The most obvious of those issues is salary. A player with the quality and production of Fabiano would likely be looking for a salary that would put him in the designated player range. The Lions already have three designated players on the roster and would have to make a corresponding move if they needed to sign another designated player.
Orlando City general manager Paul McDonough told the Sentinel this week the club is actively looking to make some additions to the roster, both within MLS and through the international market.