Kaká and José Aja
prepare for their first full training session since being injured.
Orlando City team captain Kaká and centerback José Aja both took big strides toward complete recovery on Friday, training in full with the team for the first time since being sidelined by injury.
Lions coach Jason Kreis said earlier this week he would evaluate Kaká on a day-to-day basis before making a decision on whether he will play when the Lions travel to NYCFC on Sunday.
Feeling well enough to practice for a full session bodes well for the captain, who was out for six weeks with a hamstring injury, although previously injured athletes usually play limited minutes in their first games back.
Defender Jonathan Spector said he seemed like “the same old Kaká.”
“He’s a great player,” Spector said. “I don’t think he’s one of those players where if he misses a few weeks here or there you notice a drop in form or anything like that. So we're happy to have him back. I don’t know what that means for the game coming up ... but at the very least we’re happy he’s at least close to returning.”
Aja also is day-to-day after a hamstring injury suffered in the Lions’ road match in Columbus.
The Lions are 4-0 at home, with their sole loss this season coming in that Columbus game.
So a big talking point leading up to this week’s game has been how the team can translate its home-field success to Yankee Stadium against NYCFC.
“That Columbus game we were disappointed but at the same time we created a lot of chances,” Spector said. “We know away from home we have to be a little bit better with the ball so we don’t get punished for that. I think it’s just continually improving as a group, both with and without the ball. That’s something we're working on at home, too, but certainly away games are a little bit different. I think we have to be that much more resolute defensively as a group to not allow any goals or chances, and then take our chances when we get them at the other end.”
Lions coach Jason Kreis said he’s very anxious to prove the team can perform just as well away from home as it has in the new Orlando City Stadium.
He’s seen many Major League Soccer teams over the years able to get three points at home but never really put it together on the road, he said.
“For me, that’s the mark; that’s kind of the next level of teams,” Kreis said. “For us to show the next level of who we are and the next level of our maturity and experience is to be able to string together a performance and get a result on the road.”
NYCFC’s pitch provides its home team a distinctive advantage as the most narrow in the league, angled in the baseball team’s outfield.
Spector has never played there and said he’s heard mixed reviews but is hoping it will be a “cool experience.” He also said the team has been training this week in a more confined space to mimic the field so it can work out the spacing and tactics needed.
“I think that’ll be pretty key for us,” Spector said.