FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Antonio Delamea is likely to be available for selection when the New England Revolution host Toronto FC in a critical Eastern Conference showdown on Saturday night.
Delamea, who has missed three games since limping off with a hamstring injury late in the Revolution’s loss to Los Angeles FC on August 3, has returned to full training and said he’s looking forward to helping the Revolution solidify a playoff spot through the final six weeks of the regular season.
“I feel good,” Delamea said on Tuesday morning. “I think it’s important to be back for this last stretch, because we are really looking forward to making the playoffs. I’m just happy to be back to help the team.”
Delamea had started six of the previous seven games prior to his injury, but the Revs have been buoyed by the return of fellow center back Michael Mancienne in Delamea’s stead. Now, with both healthy, they’ll join Andrew Farrell and Jalil Anibaba in a battle for minutes in central defense.
“We’ve been a little thin for a while on our backline,” said sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena. “It’s good to get another player back.”
One player the Revs seem unlikely to have against Toronto FC is Teal Bunbury, who was forced off in the 12th minute of last weekend’s win over Chicago. Arena said Bunbury is “doing okay” as the veteran forward was limited to working off to the side of Tuesday’s training session.
Cristian Penilla came off the bench to replace Bunbury against the Fire, and put in a solid shift while playing in a somewhat unfamiliar role as a center forward.
“It’s obviously not a natural position for him,” Arena said. “But he did fine when called upon.”
While Bunbury remains something of a question mark, Edgar Castillo will most definitely be unavailable against Toronto as he deals with a rib injury that Arena said will keep Castillo “out for a while.” The veteran left back, who has started 20 games this season, suffered the injury late in the draw with the New York Red Bulls on August 17.
DeJuan Jones started in place of Castillo against the Chicago Fire, while Anibaba and Brandon Bye also both have experience playing left back.
