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Sandy • Penciled in as a starter or not, Chris Wingert trains with the mindset that he will be called upon each week. Which is one of several reasons Real Salt Lake sprung after the former RSL left back when he was placed on waivers by New York City FC early last month.
His return to RSL is paying early dividends, too. The 33-year-old defender stepped into the starting lineup against Tigres UANL in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League series, effectively shutting down electrifying winger Jürgen Damm. In Sunday's season opener at Orlando City, Wingert was the first sub off the bench when starter Demar Phillips was sent off for a second yellow card in the 20th minute.
"It's always going to be a competition for everyone on the back line," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "We're going to need everyone healthy, fit and focused."
All boxes Wingert checks.
With Phillips suspended for Saturday's home opener against Seattle, Wingert is the obvious candidate to get another start on the left side of the RSL defense. After training Thursday, he said the early-season action has helped progress his fitness after rejoining RSL in preseason.
"I feel great," he said. "No problems at all."
If Wingert's form continues, the competition at left back will certainly tighten. Phillips entered the season as the incumbent, as the left back was brought in prior to last season to replace Wingert, who was drafted by NYCFC in the 2014 Expansion Draft.
But Wingert will get another shot to state his case Saturday against Clint Dempsey and the Sounders.
"Obviously I've played 200 games with half the guys on the field," Wingert said of his transition. "That part makes it easier, for sure. I don't feel like I've had any trouble getting back into the swing of things with the guys. And that's a credit to them for making it easy to play with them."
Hello, Mr. Morris
After playing just one Major League Soccer match, Sounders forward Jordan Morris is already impressing folks around the league. Cassar said Seattle's 21-year-old Homegrown signing — the largest in league history — possesses a motor that does not stop.
"He's got all the tools to be successful," Cassar said. "He's got everything working for him: Speed, size, athleticism. But I think at the end of the day, what's really going to make him successful is his attitude."
Morris was a star standout at Stanford, helping the Cardinal win the 2015 NCAA title. And during his Stanford days, he was receiving regular call-ups to the U.S. men's national team.
Wingert said he's only studied Morris briefly in his stints with the U.S. and in Seattle's own Champions League series against Club America.
"A fast kid that likes to get into the box and score goals," Wingert said. "We're going to have our hands full."
Rib injury for Morales
It's been a rough start to the season for Javier Morales. After the RSL playmaker was one of several players to come down with a flu bug that hit the locker room last week, the 36-year-old midfielder took a hefty shot to the ribs in the 2-2 draw with Orlando City last Sunday.
"It's pretty painful right now," Cassar said.
Morales did not train Thursday. Asked if he would categorize Morales as probable for Saturday, Cassar said, "We'll see."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Seattle Sounders at Real Salt Lake
P At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy
Saturday, 2 p.m.
TV • KMYU