Christine Sinclair is in line to make her 2016 NWSL debut on Saturday. (Photo Copyright Patricia Giobetti for The Equalizer)
Portland Thorns FC coach Mark Parsons says striker Christine Sinclair is set to return from an Achilles injury for Saturday’s road match against rival Seattle Reign FC.
“She’ll be available and we’re very excited about that,” Parsons told The Oregonian.
Sinclair is yet to play for the Thorns this season while dealing with an Achilles injury, an issue which gave her trouble toward the tail end of last season, too.
An injection of offensive star power will be welcomed for the Thorns, who have only scored four goals in four games but remain unbeaten at 2-0-2 (8 pts.). Portland will be without captain Tobin Heath, who was sent off late in last week’s scoreless draw with the Washington Spirit. Heath, already on a yellow card, received her second yellow card for spiking the ball into the ground as a show of disagreement with the referee’s foul call.
[ANALYSIS: FC Kansas City in big trouble | Breakers look better, but can’t score]
Parsons said that Heath is upset but took responsibility for her actions, but the Thorns coach also had some point comments regarding the escalation of sideline antics and on-field incidents on Saturday in Maryland, against the Spirit team which he coached for the past two-plus seasons:
