Portland Timbers Training Quotes and Notes:

Today's training session was closed shortly after the usual warmups were completed and the Timbers broke out into a series of passing drills.

The Timbers international players were back in town today and were immediately back in the fold as practice kicked off. Ryan Johnson, with grass still stuck to his head from training, told the media after practice, "we are a new team. We have a different mentality, a different kind of players. We are strong willed, so we believe that we will get the result."

Michael Harrington echoed that sentiment moments later, emphasizing that, despite the Timbers' early struggles this season, they are not the same team that gave up three goals in each previous visit to Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

We are a completely different team. It's not even that we have a few new guys; literally this team is completely different than it has been. There's still some guys here, but a lot of the guys that are on the field have gone there and gotten results before and are used to the altitude and are used to going on the road and getting points.

Trialists and Guest Players

Former Chivas USA center back Rauwshan McKenzie continued his trial with the Timbers today after joining the team last week as the "mystery trialist".

Ema Boateng also continued his time training with the Timbers today as a guest player. Boateng is practicing with the team while on spring break from UC Santa Barbara.

The ten players of the Timbers Academy delegation from Oregon continued to practice with the first team coaches today while on their spring break. Next week will see a group from Washington take part in training during their break.

Injuries and Absences

Darlington Nagbe warmed up with the team today and took part in the passing drills going on before practice was closed to the press this morning. Nagbe missed all of last week's practices thanks to a rolled ankle suffered during the Timbers's last game in Seattle, but participated in Tuesday's full training session. According to Caleb Porter, Nagbe is still questionable for this weekend, but his practicing makes it look like a good bet he will play.

Mobi Fehr has also been out with an ankle knock this week, warming up with the team on Tuesday but not taking part in the rest of training. Fehr warmed up with the team again before practice is closed.

Sal Zizzo, Bright Dike, and Brent Richards all remain out after undergoing knee surgeries. Zizzo is the closest to returning after having a torn meniscus repaired following the season opener. Porter confirmed on Tuesday that Zizzo is making progress toward being fit enough to practice, although he did not give an exact date for his return.