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“Another hit for us,” City SC interim coach David Critchley said.

Morales injured his right clavicle in a fall early in last weekend's 1-0 loss at Houston and tried playing through it but was subbed out in the 15th minute. Morales was originally signed as a depth player after a trial in training camp but became a regular starter when Eduard Lowen went out. (Lowen has begun jogging outdoors as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.) Now, Morales is out for several weeks, though with Durkin’s return, the team’s injury list isn’t getting longer but also isn’t getting any shorter.

Durkin has been out with a knee injury and has played only eight games this season, starting six. On his first day back after missing four games, it was unclear how much he might be able to play Saturday against Real Salt Lake, but any amount of Durkin is a plus for City SC.

“We’re hopeful he can come in and feature this weekend,” Critchley said, “because he’s been a big miss to the team.”

Unclear is where he might play. Durkin has been used at center back, a position where City SC's top three players, Henry Kessler, Timo Baumgartl and Joakim Nilsson, are all hurt, so Critchley will have to assess the team's needs.

In addition to Lowen doing work on the field but separate from the team, Kessler and Nilsson have emerged from the training room to take the next steps in their rehabs.

Ostrak, Wallem stuck in between

Midfielders Tomas Ostrak and Conrad Wallem aren’t on the City SC injury report anymore, though the availability of both has been limited.

Ostrak has played just 20 minutes over the past five games because of a fluid buildup in his leg connected to the season-ending injury he had last season. During the team’s off week, he had the fluid drained and said he’s 100% again.

“I was two months dealing with some adductor issues,” Ostrak said. “I had fluid inside, inflammation, and it was uncomfortable, but still I could play with that. I was waiting for the break for them to take it out and I feel great again and I’m good to go. I’m good to push and help the team as much as possible.”

Wallem injured his calf while training with City2 after he got a red card in Critchley’s first game and a one-game suspension. Since then, he’s come on as a second-half sub twice and started the most recent game but came out at halftime.

“It’s been restricted every week in training and games for a month,” he said. “On the weekend now, for example, I feel it starting to tighten up a little bit after 30, 40 minutes. So it’s not ideal but hopefully we’re working on it and hopefully it’s getting better day by day and week by week.”

Wallem is kicking himself about how he hurt it. City2 trains on the club’s artificial turf field and he thinks that made his sore calf hurt even more.

“That was frustrating, to say the least,” he said. “Should have been handled a little different, but it’s how it is. ... I should have said that maybe I shouldn’t have trained that day. I take responsibility for that for sure. I should have been clearer on what my body needs and what it doesn’t need. ... Hopefully just get control on it so I can start playing 90 minutes again.”

Kids in the middle

The situation, injuries aplenty and a quick turnaround from a game in extreme heat, forced Critchley’s hand on playing the youngest back line he possibly could Saturday, which featured center backs aged 21 and 23 (Jake Girdwood-Reich and Michael Wentzel), a 22-year-old right back (Joey Zalinsky) and a 23-year-old left back (Jayden Reid). Other than the team’s Homegrown players, the team’s four youngest field players made up the back line.

And while other factors certainly played a role, it was the fewest goals allowed by City SC in a month.

Whether it shows up again will depend on how long City SC’s first-choice center backs are out.

“It was a young back line,” said Girdwood-Reich. “But I think you can't put age on it. If you're good enough to play you'll play. Jay has been playing consistently, and then me and Michael stepped in and also Joey. So age for me, doesn't matter.”

For Girdwood-Reich, it was his third start this season and his first at center back, having mostly been used in a defensive midfield role before.

“I think most people forget I actually think I am more of a center back than a (defensive midfielder),” he said. “I played there, mostly back in my old club, so I was happy to be given a chance there.

“At my old club, I had a partner that was my age as well. So I'm used to playing with a younger center back. And I think for me and Michael, that was the first time we really actually played together. I mean, never City2, two games didn't play together. So it was nice to play with him.”

“It was very good playing with JGR,” Wentzel said. “I felt like he and I had communication on the field, so I think we have to build on that. I don't know when our next chance will come, but that's part of the part of being a team player.”