Sporting KC midfielder Benny Feilhaber on track to make season debut next week

The MLS season began only 19 days ago, but in less than three weeks’ time, just one club in the 20-team league remains perfect.

Sporting Kansas City.

And it’s ready to add a key reinforcement.

Midfielder Benny Feilhaber has rejoined practice as a full participant this week, and he is on target to make his season debut in Sporting Kansas City’s home match on April 2 against Real Salt Lake.

“He’s fully back with us, so if everything goes well, he should be available for selection,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. “I don’t know yet how long he will be able to go.”

Feilhaber scored 10 goals and led the team with 15 assists last season. He has missed the first three matches with an abdominal strain. Even without him, Sporting KC has taken the full nine points.

But Feilhaber would be a welcomed addition to the midfield with Roger Espinoza slated to serve a one-game suspension. Espinoza received a red card in last week’s win against Toronto FC.

The return-to-action timeline will be a longer one for defender Ike Opara. While Opara has been a regular participant in practice — and successfully went through preseason — back-to-back season-ending injuries has the club taking a more cautious approach.

Opara ruptured his Achilles’ tendon last April and has not played in an MLS match since. He missed most of the 2014 season with a chondral defect in his right ankle.

“He’s just not yet there,” Vermes said. “When you talk about a guy who’s been out for two years basically, I want to make sure he’s going to have consistent training week after week. That’s how he’s going to get back into it. And that’s going to take a little time.”

Opara has not been in the lineup yet this season, even as an available substitute off the bench.

Vermes indicated the club may elect to play Opara in a couple of matches with the Swope Park Rangers as part of his rehab process.

“I’m going to be patient with it, but he has to be patient, too,” Vermes said. “That’s just the way it is. I don’t want to keep going in a situation where he’s injured, he’s back, he’s injured, he’s back. It’s not good for anyone.”

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 1:14 PM with the headline "Sporting KC midfielder Benny Feilhaber on track to make season debut next week."