Heaps Mum on Jones’ Status, CB Search
- Updated: June 4, 2015
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Three days after Jermaine Jones suffered a left groin injury during the first half of Sunday’s draw against the Galaxy, mystery continued to surround the prized midfielder’s prognosis.
When asked for an update on Jones’ injury status prior training on Wednesday, Revolution coach Jay Heaps kept his answer short and simple.
“In terms of Jermaine, we’re seeing how things kind of play out,” Heaps said. “But we feel we have a good, strong midfield.”
Of course, the loss of Jones for any period of time doesn’t just affect the squad’s numbers in the middle of the park.
Five of his nine starts this year have come at center back, a spot where the Revolution are especially thin due to the offseason departures of A.J. Soares and Stephen McCarthy, as well as a knee injury to Darrius Barnes, who is expected to be sidelined for the next four months. With Jones’ status uncertain, the team’s search for center back depth has come back into focus.
The Revolution are currently carrying three natural center backs on the active roster, and only two of them – Andrew Farrell and Jose Goncalves – have spent time in the middle of the defense thus year. London Woodberry is a center back by trade, but has shined at right back and is likely to remain there going forward.
Despite the lack of available options at center back, Heaps was quick to point out that the front office is doing its due diligence to address the situation.
“Like anything, we’re an organization that spends a lot of time scouting, and a lot of time looking and actively trying to seek players,” Heaps said, “and not just at center back, we look for other positions.”
Even though the situation is not the ideal for any coach – especially one whose team has a tough summer schedule on tap – Heaps remains confident in the club’s quest for additional depth.
“We feel like we have a strong organizational search,” Heaps said. “We’re always in contact with our network to try to continue to look for a player that would fit into what we’re trying to do.”
Last month, the Revolution brought in 21-year-old former Birmingham City defender Will Packwood on trial in the hopes of shoring up its defensive corps. Ultimately, Packwood came and left, leaving some to wonder why the club declined to sign the free agent center back from Concord, Mass.
Heaps was posed that very question on Wednesday, but he declined to offer specifics.
“I’m not going to talk about players who aren’t on the roster,” Heaps said.
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