BRIDGEVIEW, Ill -- While Arne Friedrich has flown back to Germany to receive treatment for a strained right hamstring, Fire captain Logan Pause seems to be further along in his recovery from tightness in his right quad.
The injury, which flared up the week of the season opener at LA, has kept Pause out of the team’s initial two matches.
READ: Friedrich heads to Germany for injury treatment
“Each day I’m getting better,” the captain told Chicago-Fire.com Tuesday. “It’s obviously been a frustrating and what seems like a slow process but I’m progressing along and I feel positively about that. Hopefully before long I’m helping the team.”
Pause has kept in condition during the injury, doing some light running last week before performing sprints and doing some exercises on the ball during Tuesday’s training session.
While no timetable has been set on his return, he was listed as questionable on Tuesday’s injury report.
Asked about his condition following practice, Fire head coach Frank Klopas indicated the possibility that Pause could be ready to go for full training on Thursday.
Pause, who played almost exclusively at right back during the team’s preseason matches, admitted some frustration in not being able to help the team in their season opening defeats to LA and New England.
“Of course it’s difficult when you can’t really help but I believe we have a very capable locker room. I think dropping points at home against an in-conference rival is the biggest thing we’re disappointed about.
“We’re working hard each day to try and make sure we’re moving things along and we continue to stick together and fight for one another.”
Though results those results in the past, things won't exactly be easy for the Fire this weekend as the team travels to Sporting KC for that club’s home opener.
READ: The budding rivalry with Sporting KC
Sporting Park is admittedly a difficult place to play but the captain pointed to the club’s previous success at the stadium, where they’ve gone 1-1-1 since it opened in 2011.
“There is some frustration but the belief is there that we can turn things. We’ve gone to Sporting Park and earned points before and that opportunity is there for us again on Saturday.”
