Bob Bradley provides injury updates for LAFC’s Carlos Vela, Tristan Blackmon

So far in their history, Los Angeles Football Club have been relatively lucky in terms of injuries, but with a spate of games at present, that is being tested.

Most notably, Carlos Vela’s extended absence due to an MCL injury in his knee, and a recent hamstring injury for Tristan Blackmon, has stretched LAFC on both sides of the ball.

LAFC head coach Bob Bradley had an update on the players when asked Friday during pregame availability.

“Carlos is doing a little bit as a neutral player in training,” Bradley told reporters ahead of Sunday’s LAFC game at Real Salt Lake. “That’s really positive. When you have an MCL [injury] that final stage, getting the confidence in the knee, feeling that it’s strong and stable for the different actions. As everyone knows, his MCL [injury] is in his left knee and with his ability to incredible things with his left foot, that’s the final part, to get all of that back.”

So Vela is making progress. As for a timeline, Bradley would not commit to a specific frame, or even a ballpark.

“It’s really difficult to give a final timeline for that stage, but just seeing him on the field for training is a boost for everybody,” he said.

The news doesn’t sound as good for Blackmon, who plays both right back and center back, positions of need lately for LAFC. Bearing in mind LAFC will play double gameweeks for the next four weeks, Bradley said Blackmon won’t be in the lineup for some time yet.

“Tristan is still working on the side, not back into training yet, picking up the run and getting more confidence in the hamstring. It’s still games away,” Bradley said.

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