Minnesota United versatile veteran Robin Lod on Friday trained fully with his teammates for the first time this week in preparation for Sunday's "Decision Day" finale against Vancouver at Allianz Field.
Loons coach Adrian Heath said afterward Lod will be available to play in a game with the season at stake, unless his healing calf stiffens overnight or becomes painful.
"He has joined in with everything this morning," Heath said. "We haven't pushed him too early."
Win or draw and the Loons advance to the MLS Cup playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. Lose to a team that has won three consecutive home games and the Loons will head into an unusually long offseason — thanks to next month's World Cup — 0-6-1 in their final seven games.
Lod has missed duty with Finland's national team and the past two MLS games because of the injury in a season when he has played positions all over the field: right-side attacker, "false" striker up top, central midfielder — wherever Heath needs him.
"He's a really important piece for us wherever we play him," Heath said. "He has been an invaluable player for us all season. We need him certainly."
Lod hasn't played since the Loons' 1-1 home draw with Los Angeles FC on Sept. 13. Heath said he isn't concerned about Lod's conditioning, or lack thereof.
"He's a fit boy and he has played a lot of football," Heath said. "He has managed to do a little bit of cardiovascular work without putting stress on the actual injury. We think he'll be fine.'
