MONTREAL – Impact fans can stop chewing their fingernails. A little.
Some injury doubts remain for Montreal, but the good news is center back Laurent Ciman was back in training this Saturday morning.
On Wednesday, Ciman played all 90 minutes of Montreal's 1-1 draw against Club América in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final in Mexico City. But supporters got nervous when word came out that Ciman had struggled to exit Estadio Azteca, unable to put weight on his left ankle.
They can now breathe easier. Ciman was on the Stade Saputo field on Saturday, taking part in possession and fitness drills during the portion of practice open to media. Head coach Frank Klopas dismissed any concerns about Ciman’s fitness, but other questions linger about the statuses of Hassoun Camara and Victor Cabrera.
“Laurent is ready. He’s ready to play,” Klopas told reporters. “With Hassoun, I think it’s day-to-day. With him and Cabrera. We’ll see.”
Both Camara and Cabrera suffer from undisclosed lower body injuries. Camara, the starter at right back on Wednesday, left the game on a stretcher in the 66th minute after colliding with an opponent. Cabrera, for his part, failed to make the 18 against América, having sustained his injury in training earlier in the week.
The pair have four days in order to recover in bids to play in the decisive match. Sophomore right back Eric Miller, who came in for Camara at the Azteca, would likely be next in line otherwise.
