FC Cincinnati might have to begin the MLS is Back Tournament without its highly-touted new forward.
Head coach Jaap Stam updated the status of Jurgen Locadia on Monday, relaying that a thigh knock might keep the Dutchman out for a couple of weeks. It would be a big loss for Cincinnati, who were set to rely on Locadia to carry much of the goalscoring load as they navigate a tough Group E that includes Atlanta United, Columbus Crew SC and the New York Red Bulls.
"Jurgen has a slight problem with his thigh, we're looking at him day to day and what he can do," Stam said. "The medical staff is assessing him every day as well, working with him. Every time he's with us on the pitch, in the hotel, in the gym, we need to take it easy because he came late, he's not been into full sessions as the group was before, so we need to look at him day to day with the problem he has with his thigh, because when he comes back he needs to be ready.
"It's probably a couple weeks that he's going to be out. But you never know with injuries like that, it depends on how the players is feeling himself as well, so we'll look at it day to day and how he feels and adjust the sessions as well."
Locadia, 26, joined Cincinnati in February from English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. He featured in each of the club's first two matches before the MLS season was postponed, scoring in his league debut against the Red Bulls on March 1.
