SKC Injury Updates: Besler, Gutierrez, Lobato, Medranda, Busio

Sporting Kansas City is getting a little healthier as they travel up to play Montreal this weekend. Forwards Khiry Shelton and Diego Rubio both came off the bench in dramatic fashion in the 3-2 comeback win over the Houston Dynamo. Veteran defender Seth Sinovic did a rehab stint with the Swope Park Rangers in their win over Las Vegas on Sunday. Not only did he go the full 90 he scored a pretty nice goal off of a set piece.

Earlier in the week, Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes ran down the injury list with The Blue Testament. “Matt (Besler) is training so that is good, the availability has increased tremendously. I think it was the right decision to not play him in the last match.”

So with Besler getting back to training he should be available for Saturday, whether that is on the bench, starting or taking another game of rest remains to be seen.

Still out but Improving

“Jimmy (Medranda) still needs some time off based on his MRI results but he is improving which is a good thing. It’s not like he is getting worse or standing still.”

“(Cristian) Lobato just had another therapy session so not sure if it is this Friday or next Friday that he has to be not doing all that much so he can start working back. He has a really bad case of tendinitis,” Vermes stated.

Vermes gestured at Felipe Gutierrez on the field and continued, “Felipe is warming up, we are slowly indoctrinating him so I would say next week he starts entering training with us on a slow basis, but he is progressing as well.”

Gutierrez had surgery in early May and was supposed to be out for 2-3 months. Early August could be his return on the outside end of that estimate but perhaps he could start seeing minutes earlier if he enters training next week. The talented midfielder has been doing some fitness work all along and has started some light ball work also but training with the team will be a big step towards getting him back for the last half of the season.

The official SKC preview still has Gianluca Busio out with the hamstring issue but Brad Evans is now available.