Geovanni participated in drills and a scrimmage for the second-straight day after agreeing to terms with the San Jose Earthquakes to become the team's first-ever designated player on Monday.
The Brazilian midfielder continued to find his form on Tuesday. After spending the past several months without a team, Geovanni played both ways in a 10-on-10 scrimmage to help improve his fitness while familiarizing himself with Quakes teammates. The 30-year-old spent the morning playing the role of distributor while in the central midfield and out wide.
"We've never really had a playmaking guy, a skillful, inventive, forceful player around the goal," said Quakes head coach Frank Yallop. "He's individual, but he can also play with his teammates and we're excited to have that type of player."
Yallop said the coaching staff plans to ease Geovanni into training after his summer layoff.
Players and coaches were all excited to have Geovanni on the pitch. Perhaps most enthusiastic about the signing are San Jose's strikers, each of which hopes to take advantage of Geovanni's creativity in the attacking third.
"He's plays beautiful balls forward and that's something that we have been missing," Quakes striker Ryan Johnson said.
CANNON BREAKS ANKLE
Joe Cannon broke his left ankle at practice on Tuesday. Cannon's cleat stuck in the grass while attempting to make a save. He will undergo surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
Cannon was coming off a triumphant return to the net on Saturday. After watching from the bench in the Quakes previous six matches, Cannon recorded seven saves and a clean sheet in a much-needed 1-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards.
Jon Busch, the only other goalkeeper on San Jose's roster, will start in Cannon's place. Alex Horwath will join the Quakes as an emergency MLS pool goalkeeper for Saturday's match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
CONVEY STILL AT LEFT BACK
Bobby Convey played on the Quakes back line during 10-a-side scrimmages. Until Ramiro Corrales returns from his knee injury, Convey appears to be the choice replacement.
Despite all the hoopla surrounding Geovanni's signing, it was Convey who had perhaps the most spectacular moment at training. Convey went full speed at Steven Beitashour on the flank, stopped and cut back to the middle without skipping a beat before dialing in a perfect arching cross to Ryan Johnson at the far post.
The MLS All-Star selection has been a key piece for San Jose all season. Despite the sudden move to the back line, Convey welcomes the challenge and hopes to help the team anway he can during the playoff race.
"This has been the best season I've had in MLS and it's tough to switch positions in the middle of the season, but that's what our team needed right now," Convey said.
