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MLS Notes: Castrillon set for surgery, Traore on trial in Seattle, MLS return for Nunez and more

BY DARRELL LOVELL

Weeks after learning that Martin Rivero would be lost to surgery for an extended time, reports Wednesday confirmed that his fellow Colorado Rapids teammate Jaime Castrillon will join him under the knife.

The Colombian midfielder will undergo left knee surgery to repair an injury suffered late last season. According to head coach Oscar Pareja, the problem with the midfielder’s knee kept progressing to the point that surgery became the best option.

“He has to get through surgery, unfortunately,” Pareja said. “Jaime right now, his agent and the club and the league are finalizing who will get the surgery done.”

Castrillon led the Rapids in scoring with eight goals in his first season with the club.

The midfielder’s surgery could complicate things as reports suggest a possible move home is in the works for the Colombian as Millonarios, the same club that signed Fredy Montero on loan, is reportedly lining up a move to bring Castrillon into the fold.

There was no recovery timetable provided.

Here are some other notes around MLS:

TRAORE ON TRIAL WITH SOUNDERS

Former Liverpool defender Djimi Traore is currently on trial with the Seattle Sounders. The 33-year-old joined Seattle earlier this week as the club seeks reinforcements on the back line to replace the departed Jeff Parke.

Traore has a sterling resume that includes time at Anfield, where he helped the English club to the 2005 UEFA Champions League title, along with stops at Marseille and Portsmouth. Tuesday’s preseason Cascadia clash between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers marked the first appearance for Traore, who played 45 minutes in the 1-0 loss.

Also in camp is MLS veteran and former Jamaica captain Shavar Thomas.

F.C. DALLAS RETURN FOR RAMON NUNEZ?

After a September ACL injury contributed to the end of his time at Leeds United, could Ramon Nunez be ready to don the red and white hoops again? Nunez is currently in camp with F.C. Dallas, the team that drafted him in 2004, looking to see if a reunion makes sense.

The 27-year-old has traveled to Central America and Europe, most recently with Leeds, since leaving the club in 2007. According to reports, there is no deal in place for midfielder but he could fit into the midfield rotation if things fall in line health-wise and financially.

“I really don’t even know if he’s 100 percent ready to play yet, but looking at our needs still he’s someone who can definitely be an option instead of David [Ferreira]or be an option instead of Jackson or Fabián [Castillo] on the wings,” Fernando Clavijo told MLSsoccer.com. “He can help us in many positions, but it’s somebody who we’re paying very close attention to right now.”

TAYLOR SIGNS EXTENSION

Houston locked up one part of their center back pairing for the long-term this week signing Jamaican Jermaine Taylor to a four-year contract extension. Taylor came to Houston in 2011 and, after battling injury and depth on the Dynamo back line in his first season, found his way into the starting lineup in 2012. Taylor is set to return to his spot in the middle in 2013 alongside veteran Bobby Boswell.

“[Houston] has been a great place for me for the last two years and I am proud to know that I can call it home into the future,” Taylor said in a club release.”I am pleased to finalize my contract and excited to focus on the team goals ahead. I look forward to being with the Dynamo for the next few years and helping the team moving forward.””

Comments

  1. Didnt Nuñez play at one point for Puebla FC in LigaMX and do well?.. I always tbought he would do well in LigaMX..He did go to my friends H.S. in Dallas.. maybe he wants be back home.

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  2. “Traore has a sterling resume that includes time at Anfield, where he helped the London club in the 2005 UEFA Champions League title”

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  3. That’s too bad they couldn’t make the decision on surgery until three months after the season ended. Would like to see Colorado back in the mix. Hopefully it doesn’t keep him out for too much of the season.

    Reply

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