Robles Still Out of Practice

Just like earlier in the week, Luis Robles is still out of practice.

MLSsoccer.com's Franco Panzio reports Robles, was at practice, watching, but didn't participate. Instead, he was off to the side, knee wrapped in ice.

Earlier in the week, Big Apple Soccer seemed to insinuate the litmus test for a Robles start would be whether or not he felt comfortable taking goal kicks. If he couldn't, Ryan Meara would get the start between the sticks.

That's not something Head Coach Mike Petke foresees, though.

"There's no need for him to train," Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke said. "He took a knock, [the team doctor] is indicating he will be fine. He is already feeling much, much better and tomorrow he will be back out. Nine, 10 months into the season, two days resting him is not going to do any [harm]."

Should he get the start it'll be Meara's first MLS start this year. The second year 'keeper missed a big chunk of the season nursing the hip injury that ended his Rookie of the Year campaign last year. In that time, Robles made the spot his and Meara was relegated to the bench, save two Open Cup starts, a shutout against amateur side Reading United AC and a browbeating at the hands of the New England Revolution.

Meara has been getting starts with the reserves -- nine in fact -- where he posted a 2-3-1 record with a 1.54 goals against average. Several of those games, it seems, he played in front a makeshift backline made up of trialists, academy players and new guys.