Ljungberg has bad back

Published 11:19 pm Tuesday, March 30, 2010

TUKWILA — Freddie Ljungberg jogged on the side as his Sounders FC teammates went through practice on Tuesday.

Unfortunately for the star midfielder and his team, that was all he was able to do, and Ljungberg’s availability for Saturday’s game is very much in doubt.

Ljungberg, who took a knee to his lower back in Thursday’s season-opening win, has a contusion doctors have compared to an injury an NFL player would suffer if he took a helmet to the back. Ljungberg said there is fluid in his back, and if that doesn’t clear, he likely won’t be able to play.

“We don’t know yet,” said Ljungberg. “If I can’t (drain) the fluid away I can’t play. We were off this weekend, I stayed in the whole weekend to get treatment and everyday to get treatment, and hopefully it will help, but we don’t know yet.”

Perhaps the only thing that came away from the injury looking worse than Ljungberg’s back is the reputation of Philadelphia coach Peter Nowak. Following Thursday’s loss, which featured five cards handed out to Union players, Nowak called out Ljungberg for embellishing even though the injury turned out to be very real.

“There are guys rolling around on the pitch like they got shot,” Nowak said after the game. “I think we need to recognize there are guys doing this stuff and trying to take advantage of the referee decisions. I expect someone like Freddie Ljungberg, who has scored so many goals and played hundreds of games with the national team and won so many trophies would be more honest than he is… I think it is below his standards.”

And while soccer very well may have too much flopping in the game, Nowak picked a bad example to make that case. Ljungberg had to leave the game early in the second half after trying to return, and still has weakness in his right leg to the point that he struggles to walk up stairs.

“What can I say? It’s just laughable,” Ljungberg said when asked about Nowak’s comments. “When I heard it I laughed. I just think it’s too low and pathetic to even respond on, to be honest.”

Seattle is off today, though Ljungberg will be at the team’s facilities to continue rehabbing the injury. Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said the way his midfielder responds Thursday may determine his availability.

“We will see on Thursday,” Schmid said. “If he is able to go full out on Thursday then I think we will see Freddie Ljungberg on Saturday.”

Physical play is nothing new to Ljungberg, as both he and forward Fredy Montero were frequently fouled last season as teams tried to slow the Sounders FC offense. Ljungberg, who complimented the way referees handled hard fouls last week, said he put on six or eight pounds of muscle in the offseason to better handle the physical play in Major League Soccer. And while he is no stranger to rough play having played in the English Premier League, Ljungberg doesn’t think fouls should be a substitute for skill in the American version of the game.

“It’s quite a delicate thing to talk about but I personally have the view that it is supposed to be a technical game,” he said. “If you’re not quick enough and you have to foul, that should be reprimanded.”

Noonan the newest Sounder?

Veteran midfielder Pat Noonan, who was released by Colorado last week, is training with Seattle as a trialist this week, and it sounds as if he will be a member of the team soon.

The team has not yet announced a signing, but Noonan made it sound as if it is only a matter of time until he becomes a member of the team.

“I’ve signed a contract,” Noonan said, who played for Schmid in Columbus two seasons ago. “It’s still kind of in the works, but hopefully everything works out and I’ll be here for good.”

Asked if he would be able to play Saturday, Noonan said: “I sure hope so. It remains to be seen, but hopefully training goes well and I’ll be selected.”

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.