CHARLESTON — Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer expects midfielder Osvaldo Alonso to make his first preseason appearance in one or both of the club’s remaining two matches in the Carolina Challenge Cup.
“He’ll probably find some minutes somewhere, yes,” Schmetzer said after the Sounders’ 1-1 draw with the USL’s Charleston Battery on Saturday.
Alonso is nursing a knee injury and did not play against the Battery, his former club with whom he spent the 2008 season before joining the Sounders in 2009. He also did not play against the Portland Timbers or San Jose Earthquakes during the Sounders’ preseason trip to Tucson, Ariz.
Schmetzer said Alonso’s knee is coming along and called his status “day-to-day.”
Alonso started 32 regular-season matches last season, scoring three goals and recording a career-high four assists.
The Sounders will take on Atlanta United on Wednesday (4:30 p.m. PT; SoundersFC.com) before battling Columbus Crew SC to finish the round-robin tournament on Saturday, Feb. 25 (1:30 p.m. PT: SoundersFC.com).
