HOUSTON – It has been more than five weeks since Colin Clark had to worry about preparing for a match. But after bye weeks turned a three-game suspension into what will amount to a month-and-a-half out of action, the Houston Dynamo midfielder is ready to get back into game mode.
Nearing the end of his suspension – which was handed down after uttering a homophobic slur in a 2-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders on March 23 – Clark will be eligible for selection when the Dynamo face the New York Red Bulls on May 9 (the Dynamo have a bye this weekend). With game action a possibility, Clark is happy that his focus can return to soccer.
“It’s been tough,” Clark said of his absence, which would end at 48 days if he plays at New York. “It’s gone now, but it’s been tough to take. Three games is a pretty good suspension, and any suspension, you want to get done as soon as possible, but this one took a while.
“Now it’s over,” he added, “and I can focus on New York.”
Clark will head into the midweek clash well rested and fully healthy now that he has recovered from a hamstring injury. He told MLSsoccer.com on Monday that he picked up the knock shortly after his suspension was handed down and that it ruled him out of both Reserve League matches the club has played the past five weeks.
“Those [reserve games] would’ve been good for game minutes but I’ve been training hard and doing extra running after training,” Clark said. “Mentally, I’ve just been trying to get through it, and I’m ready for whatever minutes I get.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
Follow@DarrellLovell
