BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Chicago Fire head coach Frank Yallop expects the returns of forwards Mike Magee and Patrick Nyarko to be like “two new signings” when they make their expected return from lengthy injury layoffs in the coming months.
Though no date has been set for a return for either player, it is anticipated that Nyarko (cruciate ligament) and Magee (hip surgery) will return to full fitness in time to play a part in the second half of the season. Of the two, winger Nyarko is believed to be furthest ahead in his rehabilitation, which continues apace under the supervision of the club’s fitness coaches.
And looking at the club’s offensive output of just six goals from their opening seven games, the return of two pivotal attacking options would be a timely boost as the Fire (3-4-0, 9 pts) aim to clinch a place in the postseason for just the second time in six seasons.
“I hate to keep saying it, but we’ve got two guys coming back that are two new signings for us, if you like,” Yallop said in Tuesday’s conference call when asked about Magee’s return to action.
“We kind of didn’t have either guy last year and now half this year is going to be gone before they come back. Mike is a guy that’s going to come into the fold, we can’t wait to get him back, and I’m hoping he comes back to full strength, full health,” he added. “He looks good right now in his running and all the stuff he’s doing with our fitness coach and I’m hoping he comes back firing on all cylinders, because he is a good player.”
Although the Fire are a significantly more attack-minded and dynamic unit than last season, their inability to convert the many chances they have created sees them, along with expansion sides New York City FC and Orlando City, boasting the second-lowest goals total in MLS.
With that in mind and only one of those six goals coming from a recognized striker in David Accam, who is suspended for the team's Saturday clash against Real Salt Lake (3 pm ET, MLS Live), Yallop admitted he would not be afraid to bring in reinforcements during the July window, should their lack of productivity in front of goal persist.
“Obviously, it’s something we’re looking at right now, we’ve got six different scorers, but you need your central striker, whoever it is, you want him to get off the mark and get going,” Yallop said.
Accam is joined in the Fire attack by three more recent acquisitions: offseason signings Kennedy Igboananike and Guly do Prado, as well as Jamaican youngster Jason Johnson, who recently came over in a trade from Houston. Quincy Amarikwa is the only holdover from 2014 frontline that has seen any playing time.
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As such, the Fire may need some more time to gel, but Yallop isn't about to wait all season.
“If it’s still like this [in the July window] we’ll probably look at doing something. I’m expecting these guys to get off the mark and get going and put all that behind them. We’re only seven games in and it’s not like they’ve all played seven matches,” he insisted. “Kennedy hasn’t played much, Guly’s only had two starts, Quincy’s had five games, had his chances early and he still looks good and creating a few problems. We’ll look at it, but at this point I’m expecting these guys to get it done and get us off the mark in that central, forward position.”
Trying to put a finger on why his forwards are finding it so difficult to open their accounts, Yallop cited a lack of composure with “the final ball and final touch”.
“The final ball and the final touch is what’s missing with us right now,” he told reporters after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Sporting Kansas City. “We’ve done pretty well at home, but away we don’t finish off great moves. I think we’re not really there to bury [the final ball]. It’s our Achilles' heel right now. I think that’s the thing we’re just lacking at the moment; it’s not from belief or not trying, just off a little bit right now. It’s maybe a combination of confidence and maybe not making the right runs at the right time.”
Shane Murray covers the Chicago Fire for MLSsoccer.com.
