FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Chris Tierney (left hamstring strain) will miss Wednesday night’s meeting with the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers, and that could be just one of several changes to the New England Revolution lineup in the midst of a hectic week.
In total the Revs will play three games in an eight-day stretch, with Wednesday night’s match sandwiched in between last weekend’s loss to D.C. United and a Saturday night showdown with Orlando City SC. The fixture congestion likely means that Jay Heaps will dig into the Revolution’s depth at some point.
“We definitely want to add pieces that we think are going to make us better, but also we’re meeting with players and finding out where they are from Saturday night,” said Heaps. “We have another quick turnaround again after [Wednesday], so all focus is first and foremost on Portland on Wednesday night. We’ll react after that.”
Squad rotation is a natural part of the process through a grueling 34-game season and particularly through these frenetic weeks, but there’s also the sense that New England could use some fresh legs to provide a spark after picking up just one win through their first eight games.
The Revolution’s lineup has remained somewhat constant through the season’s first two months – just 13 different field players have started through eight games – and those players who’ve been itching to get off the bench and provide a lift may well get their shot in the coming days.
“That’s why you do it,” Heaps said of a potential boost from fresh legs. “There are guys that were champing at the bit and hoping that this is their opportunity. Hopefully they don’t let go.”
One of those players is Charlie Davies, who’s appeared off the bench in the Revolution’s last five games after overcoming a mild hamstring strain and dealing with the premature birth of his twin sons.
Davies feels like he’s “made leaps and bounds towards getting [his] sharpness back,” and he’s hoping that his minutes will continue to increase with two more games in the next four days.
“I think this week is going to be big for me,” Davies said. “We have a couple guys injured and I’ve got to step in and show what I can do and prove myself again. I’m looking forward to that.”
