San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop put an abrupt end to the Richard Wright speculation created by report from the Mercury News on Tuesday.
Wright, a former goalkeeper for Everton and Arsenal of the English Premier League, trained with the Quakes on Tuesday. According to Yallop, there's nothing more to the story - Wright is in town to train and nothing more.
Yallop and Wright were teammates at Ipswich Town in 1996 and have remained friends ever since. Wright is currently looking for work, but isn't in town for a trial, Yallop said.
The Quakes were back at the Nutrilite Training Facility for their first training session after a 2-1 road win against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday. A bulk of the practice consisted of half-field, 9-on-9 scrimmages.
Wright was in goal opposite Jon Busch during all three scrimmages while emergency-pool keeper Alex Horwath trained on the side. Yallop confirmed after practice that the Quakes are free to use an emergency-pool keeper for the remainder of the season - news to many, including Horwath, who were unclear about rules for MLS goalies.
INJURY UPDATE
Khari Stephenson and Tim Ward did not train on Tuesday. Both suffered injuries during Sunday's match in Houston.
Ward has been diagnosed with a sprained ankle while the extent of Stephenson's injury remains unknown. The Dynamo's Cam Weaver hit Stephenson with a hard challenge from behind, getting a good chunk of the Jamaican midfielder's leg. Stephenson returned to the match after limping off the field, but was soon subbed off.
Yallop said the coaching staff will evaluate Ward and Stephenson on Thursday to determine whether either is fit to play against FC Dallas on Saturday.
INTERNATIONAL APPEARANCES
Arturo Alvarez and Ryan Johnson are both away on international duty. Johnson scored a goal in Jamaica's 1-0 win against Costa Rica on Sunday and will suit up for the Reggae Boyz again on tonight when they take on Peru in Fort Lauderale, Florida. Alvarez will represent El Salvador tonight against Guatemala in Washington D.C.
CRONIN'S SUSPENSION
Sam Cronin will reluctantly sit out Saturday's match against FC Dallas after picking up a red card on Sunday. Cronin was whistled for a questionable foul on Brian Mullan in the 82nd minute. The referee deemed Cronin's tackle reckless and pulled out a straight red.
"He (Brian Mullan) embellished it a bit," Cronin said. "I was probably a little high, but I didn't really catch him. I was a little unlucky."
