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Sandy • Five weeks after collapsing to the pitch at Rio Tinto Stadium and suffering an on-field seizure, Real Salt Lake rookie Omar Holness has been cleared to train fully. RSL coach Jeff Cassar said Thursday that the 22-year-old Jamaican midfielder will not undergo surgery on his left shoulder, which was separated during the seizure episode on March 26.
"He healed pretty well," Cassar said. "Now it's about strengthening it and getting it better. Hopefully that's the right route."
In his professional debut on a one-game loan to Real Monarchs, Holness fell suddenly in the 34th minute and was immediately tended to by teammates Devon Sandoval and Max Lachowecki. He was transported by ambulance to the Salt Lake Valley hospital where he underwent a CT scan, which came back negative. Holness was released from the hospital late on March 26.
Holness has returned to RSL training sessions periodically over the last couple of weeks. This week, he's trained with the Monarchs, Cassar said. Holness, RSL's No. 5 MLS SuperDraft pick in January, was named to the Jamaican national team's 40-man provisional roster for the upcoming Copa America Centenario this week along with RSL left back Demar Phillips.
The deadline for every 2016 Copa America team to submit its 23-man tournament roster is May 20.
Plata progressing
Round II of the Rocky Mountain Rivalry will likely see the return of Joao Plata. The 24-year-old Ecuadorian striker has trained fully all week ahead of the Western Conference clash at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., after suffering a Grade 1 hip flexor strain in training on April 20.
"He's looking really good," Cassar said. "Now it's just making sure [we're] getting him game-sharp and game fitness. He's going to play a major factor [this weekend]."
Before the untimely injury, Plata had four goals and four assists in RSL's first six regular-season matches of 2016.
Atop the mountain (for now)
The two worst teams in the Western Conference sit tied atop the MLS table (along with FC Dallas) two months into the 2016 regular season. Yes, there already is more riding on this year's Rocky Mountain Cup matches than 2015. In the first meeting a month ago, RSL beat the Rapids 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Now, the Rapids have the first crack at RSL as it sets out on the longest road trip in club history.
"Crazy things happen in the MLS," Cassar said. "I think both teams are playing good soccer and playing good soccer on both sides of the ball. I think our level of talent has gone up. Their level of talent has gone up. It's two solid teams."
Captain Kyle Beckerman formerly a Rapid himself said it's been a "really long time" since these two rivals sat atop the West looking to distance themselves from one another.
"Colorado's getting better," Beckerman said. "Pablo's [Mastroeni] doing a really good job of the team there, and it's shows in the results and where they're standing at in the table. I expected that. [It] took a year or so, but think he really has them playing a style that he wants them to play and I think the guys over there are buying into what he's selling over there. It's going to be a really tough team."
Fishing trip
RSL was awarded a rare off day Wednesday by Cassar. He mentioned to Beckerman that a group fly fishing trip on the upper Provo River could be ideal, so Beckerman, a regular of the upper Provo himself, made it happen.
RSL traded cleats for fishing poles. Instead of knocking the ball around America First Field Wednesday, RSL players put on waders and cast their lines. And it was a successful day on the Wasatch Back.
"Nobody got skunked," Beckerman said. "It was unbelievable."
Jordan Allen and Boyd Okwuonu won what Beckerman termed the "Golden Boot" Wednesday, each catching 10 fish. (Beckerman caught five).
"It's important to recharge your batteries mentally," Cassar said. "I think team functions can be just as valuable as a training session. We were trying to think of things that a lot of people haven't done and new experiences, and 85 percent of our team haven't been fly fishing before.
"We knew we were kind of taking a mental break, but now it's back to work."
-Chris Kamrani
Twitter: @chriskamrani