DALLAS - 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira visited team doctors on Wednesday to evaluate the progress of his fractured ankle suffered last April. Though Ferreira has yet to appear in any FC Dallas’ scrimmages or exhibitions this offseason, the prognosis is good for the Colombian midfielder.
“He went to one of our doctors today and was assured that everything is fine with his ankle and that there’s gonna be some pain,” said manager Schellas Hyndman following the team’s 4-0 exhibition victory over SMU on Wednesday evening. “It may never get back to the way it was, and he may just have to understand that the pain is gonna be there.”
Ferreira suffered the injury in the team’s seventh MLS game of the season on a hard tackle by Vancouver Whitecaps defender Jonny Leathers. The midfielder underwent successful surgery on May 3 of last year, leading many to believe he would return down the stretch in 2011. Though unable to bounce back last season, Ferreira has recently increased his activity and participation in team training.
“The more he plays, the less he’s gonna feel the pain,” said Hyndman. “I think it was very reassuring for him, and his comment was ‘hey, I want to play tonight’, which we wouldn’t do. I think now he’s at that point of saying, ‘hey, I need to get out there and play.’”
Though Ferreira has requested to return to game action, Hyndman is unwilling to put his attacking midfielder in live action too soon. When asked if Ferreira could see action in Saturday’s exhibition match against the University of Tulsa, Hyndman left little room for doubt with his answer.
“Probably not,” said Hyndman. “I think we want to build him into training sessions where he’s going full go and teammates still know that he’s injured rather than put him out there tonight where people don't know he's had surgery.”
With less than four weeks remaining until First Kick, Ferreira will have to adjust to playing with pain on a regular basis. Despite feeling less than 100 percent, Hyndman believes the speed that makes him so special has returned for the 32-year-old. Still, there are physical limitations for Ferreira to overcome when playing at full speed.
“I think it’s not so much the acceleration with sprinting, it’s the deceleration when he has to slow down,” said Hyndman. “It just doesn’t feel right.”
Despite the discomfort, a green light from Hyndman and team doctors should go a long way in ensuring the return of Ferreira in the coming weeks.