Galaxy & Chivas USA training camp update

A very brief one since I have a column to write and I'm running behind:

*Galaxy veteran Clint Mathis was out doing a bit of running and some light training today for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in early February.

"He's not days away (from full training), he's certainly weeks," Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena said in response to a reporter's query. "Whether that's two, three, four weeks remains to be seen."

*Veteran Mexican centerback Claudio Suarez will decide next week whether to continue playing or retire, Chivas USA Coach Martin Vasquez said. He's only been with the team for a week or so in preseason, missing time because of the death of his mother.

It's appearing Suarez, at age 41, will likely hang up his boots and be replaced by former Galaxy centerback Michael Umana, who has impressed Vasquez in camp.

The 29-year-old Costa Rican defender made a half dozen starts for the Galaxy in 2005.

Vasquez described him as a "very good defender who can strengthen our club."

"He's looking sharp, (has) World Cup experience, winning some trophies in Costa Rica, being part of the team that won the MLS Cup here with the Galaxy. Everything is looking positive and when we sit down with him hopefully we can work something out."

I'll have more in Tuesday's column on Galaxy striker Edson Buddle and Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo. Both are healthy and fit for the first time in a long time, both are in the final years of their contracts and both are hungry to recapture the form that made each of them the top scorers with their respective teams. And both teams are in dire need of a consistent goalscorer.