Back from injury, midfielder hoping to see action Saturday against Toronto FC
CARSON, Calif. -- The timing of Chris Birchall's recovery from a hamstring injury couldn't come at a better time for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Head coach Bruce Arena could be tinkering with his midfield lineup in the wake of last Saturday's 6-3 loss to FC Dallas, and that could mean some playing time for Birchall, a 25-year-old member of the Trinidad and Tobago national team who is anxious to make some inroads in MLS.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder originally joined the club in mid-July when the international transfer window opened, but he had a difficult time breaking into the lineup with the Galaxy playing well and closing on their first playoff berth since 2005. But now, with the historic rout against Dallas -- the Galaxy set a club record for most goals allowed in a game -- fresh on their minds, some changes could be in order and Birchall is ready.
"If Bruce gives me my chance I'll be delighted," said Birchall, who has received plenty of practice time with the first team during this week's training sessions.
It wasn't like this as recently as a month ago, when Birchall still was trying to shake a sore left hamstring that had been dogging him for several weeks. He said it "seized up" after he was a second-half substitute in the Aug. 29 game against Chivas USA and finally got to the point where the leg prevented him from competing for Trinidad and Tobago in that nation's World Cup qualifiers, including last month's 1-0 loss to the U.S. in Port of Spain.
"It was the best option to pull out of those games, even though I didn't want to," Birchall said. "But with all the travel I wouldn't have been giving my best. That was the first time in a long time I haven't played for the (national) team. You get older, you get a few more niggles ... strains and things like that ... and you never know if there's going to be a next time."
Trinidad and Tobago's loss now is the Galaxy's gain. Birchall is ready to go and his teammates are anxious to see him back on the field. Birchall, who made his MLS debut July 16 in New York, has four appearances and 95 total minutes to his credit this season. He also played the entire second half of an international friendly against AC Milan earlier this summer.
"He's done very well since he's gotten here," Landon Donovan said. "The only thing he's lacking is some playing time, some minutes to get comfortable. He's trained particularly well the last couple of weeks and I think he's going to help us.
"He's just a good soccer player. He's played a lot of games at a high level and he understands the way the game should be played. Having a presence like that in the midfield can help us a lot."
The Galaxy certainly is looking for some, considering the way FC Dallas went through them with ease in last weekend's unsettling loss.
"We had a great run of form, even tying games but not losing," Birchall said. "But the manner in which we lost on Saturday was disappointing. I think it was a case where we were stretched too much, and they were getting through and having chance upon chance. No wonder it was a high-scoring game.
"We probably have the best forwards and attacking midfielders with Landon and David (Beckham) and his quality, and we just have to tighten up the midfield. If that means (Arena) is going to give me my chance and put me in there, I'm honored and I can't wait to play.
"I'm just trying to be part of this L.A. Galaxy team pushing for the playoffs."