The 2010 MLS MVP has been cleared to return to practice.
Feb 16, 2012 - FC Dallas could be inching their way back into the Western Conference title discussion with the news of the 2010 MLS MVP David Ferreira being cleared to return to practice today. Ferreira had an all-important doctor visit as he looks to finally return to full contact training for the first time since his ankle injury from early last season.
Ferreira suffered the injury in the team’s seventh MLS game of the 2011 season on a hard tackle by Vancouver Whitecaps defender Jonathan Leathers. The midfielder underwent successful surgery on May 3 of last year, leading many to believe he would return down the stretch in 2011.
The 32-year-old had been limited in practice so far this offseason by not participating in any contact drills or scrimmages.
Ferreira appears to be pretty excited to get back to the field. Wednesday night FC Dallas scrimmaged local college side SMU and Ferreira even tried to convince manager Schellas Hyndman to get him some minutes.
"So I think it was very reassuring for him and his comment was "hey I want to play tonight," which we wouldn't do, but I think now he's at that point of going 'hey I need to get out there and play,'" said Hyndman.
Ferreira had been working through the mental side of the return over the last few weeks. Some talks and reports indicated that he was worried he wouldn't be able to be back to his old self. Hyndman brought up the point last night to reporters that the most important thing would be to get him back in training with the whole team.
"We probably wont see him Saturday[in the friendly against Tulsa], I think we want to build him into training sessions where he's going full go and teammates still know that he's injured rather than put him out there tonight where people don't know he's had surgery," said Hyndman.
Ferreira and Dallas head to Orlando for Disney World Pro Soccer Classic next week. Look for him to make his return to the field on that trip.
For more on the Ferreira and FC Dallas, be sure to check out FC Dallas blog BigDSoccer.
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