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Sandy • Real Salt Lake general manager Craig Waibel said the front office and training staff have gone back and revisited the days, weeks and months since the start of preseason in late January to determine if there is a common theme in the team's mounting injuries.

"I wouldn't say we're in full panic mode," Waibel said, "but we're certainly analyzing what the heck's going on."

The primary concern is the ongoing muscle injuries RSL players have picked up since the season started in early March. So far Joao Plata (hip), Jordan Allen (quad), Aaron Maund (hamstring), Demar Phillips (hamstring) and Chris Schuler (hamstring) all have dealt with a pull, strain or contusion.

Waibel said RSL has gone back and studied training sessions, lifting sessions, actual games and other parts of the young season to determine what's playing a role in this ongoing rash of injuries.

Maund suffered another hamstring strain in the 4-2 loss at Minnesota, while midfielder Sunday Stephen is dealing with an unspecified injury. Center back Justen Glad (knee) remains out indefinitely, and right back Tony Beltran (back) is back in training after missing two games. RSL also announced Wednesday successful knee surgeries for offseason signings forward Chad Barrett and defender David Horst. Both surgeries were performed by RSL team physician Dr. Andrew Cooper at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center.

Barrett is expected to be out a minimum of four to six months after needing microfracture surgery in his left knee. The 31-year-old 13-year league veteran signed as a free agent this offseason. Horst, who also signed with RSL as a free agent in the offseason, had a tibial plateau chondral scope in his right knee. He's expected to be out six to eight weeks.

Horst started in RSL's first two matches of 2017, while Barrett came on as a substitute in the first three matches. Waibel understands he and his staff must find a backup to Yura Movsisyan.

"Luis Silva trained there with Tigres behind [Andre-Pierre] Gignac," Waibel said, "so we have a guy capable of being a reserve. But at the same time, we're not not looking to find another reserve striker that can be effective and eat minutes."

Beckerman reflects on Petke the player

RSL captain Kyle Beckerman recalls a fiery center back named Mike Petke who "hated to lose" even in practices. Beckerman and his new coach, Petke, were teammates with the Colorado Rapids from 2005 to 2007, when Beckerman was traded to RSL.

"That's how he was in practice," Beckerman said. "Now as a coach, you see it. It's rubbing off on all of us."

No more right back

Luke Mulholland didn't tell Beltran he's got dibs on his spot. No, the RSL midfielder forced into playing emergency right back over the weekend said he hopes to never be put in that situation.

The fourth-year RSL midfielder admitted he'd never played outside back in his life until Saturday, when he was forced over there due to Maund's hamstring injury.

"[I] told [Beltran] he can have it," Mulholland joked. "I told him I never want to be seen there again."

ckamrani@sltrib.com Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Vancouver Whitecaps at Real Salt Lake

When • 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where • Rio Tinto Stadium

TV • KMYU