Portland Timbers Training Quotes and Notes: Top of the West

The Portland Timbers trained today at Jeld-Wen Field as they prepare to take on FC Dallas tomorrow afternoon. With Dallas at the top of the Western Conference, the Timbers are still looking at the game just like any other while they try to gain ground and extend their twelve match unbeaten run.

Injuries and Absences

The Timbers only remaining player still out on international duty at this point is Rodney Wallace. Wallace will remain with the Costa Rican national team through their game against Panama on the 18th. This will make it a tight squeeze to get him back for the LA game, but it seems like fatigue will not be an issue as Wallace has yet to make the bench for Costa Rica.

Ryan Johnson, Donovan Ricketts, and Futty Danso are all back from international duty. Ricketts and Futty both were with the team at practice today, but there was no sign of Johnson. According to Caleb Porter, Johnson had some things he needed to do after getting back into town but would be available for tomorrow's game.

The Timbers corps of walking wounded were represented at practice today by Brent Richards, who watched the team's warmups from the sidelines today. Richards was sporting his newly streamlines haircut today, courtesy of St. Baldricks. Richards, along with David Horst, Bright Dike, and Mikael Silvestre, are all still in the midst of their rehabilitation from assorted knee injuries.

Dylan Tucker-Ganges also missed practice today after suffering a concussion at practice earlier in the week. The concussion ruled out DTG for Wednesday's US Open Cup game.

Trialists and Guest Players

Steve Neumann, one of the country's top collegiate players, trained with the Timbers today. Neumann plays for Georgetown University, and was a driving force in the midfield during their run to the 2012 national championship game, earning a Hermann Trophy semi finalist nod in the process.

The Timbers also had an extra goalkeeper in camp with the team, whose identity is still unknown.