This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Portland, Ore. • No Major League Soccer club is exempt from all the bumps, bruises and breaks that unfortunately accompany every eight-month regular season.
Playoff contenders and cellar-dwellers alike are crossing their fingers, saying their prayers and holding out the hope that their players bounce back from the various injuries here in the stretch run of the 2016 campaign.
Probably sooner than later, Real Salt Lake will receive an awaited boost. It's just a matter of when the coaching staff gives defensive midfielder Sunday Stephen the green light to return. The 27-year-old Nigerian has made an immediate impact in his first year at the club, commanding the center of the field with his incisive passing and ability to clean up possession.
On June 22, "Sunny" suffered multiple facial fractures when he collided with New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles. RSL team physician Andrew Cooper has seen his share of injuries in his time, but he said Sunny's "got my heart rate up for sure." Successful surgery was eventually performed and the broken cheek bones and eye socket were reset.
But a hole was left in the RSL midfield. Sunny would go on to miss 12 regular-season matches.
As he's done in his three years at the club, Luke Mulholland was waiting in the wings. The 28-year-old midfielder, an established starter the last two years, lost his job in preseason when he picked up an untimely injury. That allowed Sunny to step in and showcase his abilities quickly. Over the last two months, Mulholland kept his name in the starting midfield conversation.
"You just have to be patient and take your chances when they come along," he said. "I feel that's what I've done every season and it's what I continue to do."
RSL is 9-5-5 with Mulholland in the starting lineup in 2016. Conversely, the club is 7-2-3 with Sunny starting. Which presents RSL coach Jeff Cassar and his staff with a dilemma going into the final six weeks of the season. With Sunny fully healed and ready to make his return to the lineup, who gets the nod alongside captain Kyle Beckerman planted behind Javier Morales?
"I think we have to give Sunny a go in there again just for the whole team's sake of making sure everyone is ready to go when called upon," Cassar said. "At the end of the day, it's everyone doing what's best for the team. Obviously there's tough decisions for me to make, but no matter what, we're going to need everybody committed to the team cause and firing on all cylinders."
Mulholland has morphed his skill set over the years from an attacking midfielder to a box-to-box presence in the now-defunct diamond formation to becoming more of a holding presence in the 4-3-3. Cassar admits that Mulholland is the more rounded offensive option and will add more goals and assists.
"Two little bit different of players, but it gives us options to how we want to play and that's always good for me," he said.
Right back Tony Beltran said for as long as the MLS regular season is, every club must rely on its depth to help tread water at points along the way. He credited Mulholland for bouncing back from the disappointment of the injury in preseason and losing his job to providing the similar steady presence he has since joining the team in 2014.
"He didn't pout, he just kept his head down and kept working," Beltran said. "I think Luke is a caliber player where he can start on any team in the league, so we're very lucky to have him."
Sunny returned to the RSL game-day roster in Wednesday's 3-3 home draw against the L.A. Galaxy. He played a full 90 minutes for Real Monarchs on the road two weeks ago and played another 60 minutes last weekend. Cassar said his return is near.
"Of course, I'm ready if the opportunity is given," Sunny said recently. "I would like to help my team and fight to get back into the team."
Added Mulholland, "You just got to deal with the punches that the team gets the whole year. There's always injuries and times players have to step up."
So who will it be? Stay tuned.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Real Salt Lake at Portland Timbers
P At Providence Park, Portland, Ore.
Kickoff » Saturday, 8:30 p.m., MDT
TV » KMYU
Radio » 700 AM
Records » RSL 12-8-8; Portland 9-11-8
Last meeting » RSL 2, Portland 2 (June 18 at Rio Tinto Stadium)
About RSL » Center back Justen Glad (hamstring tweak) is considered probable for the match after missing Wednesday's 3-3 draw against L.A. … Fellow center back Aaron Maund (toe fracture) remains sidelined indefinitely. … Captain Kyle Beckerman made his career 400th MLS appearance Wednesday, the most of any field player in MLS history. … Joao Plata's two goals against L.A. upped his 2016 totals to nine goals and 11 assists. … Plata, Yura Movsisyan and Burrito Martinez have combined for 25 goals and 17 assists so far this year.
About Portland » Former RSL center back Nat Borchers is out for the rest of the year after suffering a ruptured left Achilles in late July. … The Timbers are currently sixth in the Western Conference at 35 points. … Portland came back from a two-goal deficit against RSL at home on March 19 to earn a 2-2 draw. … Forward Fanendo Adi leads the club with 13 goals. … Midfielder Diego Valeri has 11 goals and seven assists this year. … Portland recently loaned outside back Chris Klute to Minnesota United.