Reports: Connor Lade "an option for the weekend" as New York Red Bulls injury list starts to clear

The New York Red Bulls are still carrying a few injury concerns in their squad. Connor Lade didn't quite recover from a knock to his ribs in time to play against Orlando City on April 9, but he has apparently made steady progress during the week of training preceding RBNY's match against D.C. United on April 15.

Speaking after training on Thursday, April 13, RBNY head coach Jesse Marsch noted Lade "trained today, so I think he becomes an option for the weekend". Lade was an option for last weekend, of course. Last week, Marsch said the player's ability to participate in MLS action was a "game-time decision", but the decision was ultimately that Lade wasn't ready to play. Still, he's had another week in training and seems a good bet to at least make the squad against DCU, not least because Michael Amir Murillo - another right-back option on the first team roster - limped out of NYRB II's game against Orlando City B on Friday, April 14.

Marsch described Gonzalo Veron - recently returned from an apparent miracle cure in Argentina - as "doubtful" for the DC game, but the player is running again, though his head coach said the team is being "cautious" in its approach to managing his return to full training and match-day minutes.

There was also encouraging news about Mike Grella: the team hopes to see him back in training "next week".

If the outlook for Veron and Grella remains positive during next week's training sessions, it would seem RBNY is building toward a full-strength squad by the end of April.