Sporting KC likely without Kei Kamara Friday in Chicago, while Graham Zusi eyes a return

Forward Kei Kamara was sidelined once again for Sporting Kansas City practice Tuesday, as the team prepares for a vital Eastern Conference match-up with a resilient Chicago Fire squad at Toyota Park Friday night. Kamara, who was taken down in 86th minute by New England Revolution midfielder Andy Dorman on August 10th, reportedly did some light jogging during Tuesday's training session before leaving the pitch and heading back into the practice facility.

"With it already being Tuesday and he's not training with us," Peter Vermes told MLSsoccer.com, "I think it's more than likely that he won't be ready."

Vermes, who spoke with MLSsoccer.com after the training session, voiced his displeasure with Major League Soccer and their decision to not sanction Dorman further than the red card suspension he served last Saturday during New England's 2-0 shutout against Chicago.

"I don't know of any other case where a player's been injured - first in the game where the foul happened and then subsequently he's out for the next game due to that same injury - that the player who caused it and got the red card didn't get extra games," Vermes explained. "I think this might be the first time that the player didn't get extra games."

In fact, if it were up to Vermes, Andy Dorman would be withheld from action until Kei Kamara was able to return to the pitch - a move that he believes would act as collateral for the loss of Sporting KC's star striker.

"I'm one of those guys that - outside of incidental contact in a situation where a guy gets injured, where you're talking about something that's egregious as that was - I'm a big believer that the other player shouldn't be allowed at a minimum to play until the other player returns," he said. "I truly believe that, because it's always one of those things where the team that loses the player suffers the most."

Tuesday's press conference wasn't completely disappointing for Sporting Kansas City fans, though. Midfielder Graham Zusi, who has been sidelined since July 31 due to a quad strain he suffered in the first-half of the MLS All-Star game, completed Tuesday's training session in full - much to the optimism of Vermes who spoke about the possibility of a Zusi return this week.

"We'll have to see what he's like tomorrow," Vermes said, "but he's looking closer right now than Kei is, for sure."