Sporting KC’s Graham Zusi ready to make preseason debut

After missing the initial phase of Sporting Kansas City’s training camp earlier this month, midfielder Graham Zusi indicated his patience was wearing thin. And he insisted a foot injury wouldn’t sideline him much longer.

“It was tough because you want to be out there,” Zusi said. “But the trainers are telling you to wait just a little bit longer.”

The wait should end Saturday.

Zusi is scheduled to make his first appearance of the preseason Saturday, when Sporting KC faces Seattle in its second match of the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Ariz. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m.

Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said he expects Zusi to play in the match, even if it’s for less than a full half.

“He’s been training the last couple of days full-on, with no problem, so we’re going to try to give him some minutes over here,” Vermes said. “Hopefully he feels good and we’ll take it game-to-game.”

Zusi suffered a stress fracture in his foot late last season but played through the injury. He elected to sit out the U.S. national team camp in January to rest his foot, and he participated in only side work during Sporting KC preseason camp earlier this month.

Sporting KC tied Colorado 2-2 in its first match of the preseason tournament Wednesday.

This story was originally published February 20, 2015 at 3:43 PM with the headline "Sporting KC’s Graham Zusi ready to make preseason debut."