Monday Kicks: Galaxy injury list grows & more

*Add Chris Birchall (left hamstring strain) to the growing Galaxy injury list released today. The midfielder, who has made 21 appearances for the Galaxy this season, is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against Morelia, along with the same players who remain in that category from Friday’s update: David Beckham (back spasms), Robbie Keane (right gluteus tightness) and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (right quad tightness).

All the latter three skipped the Galaxy’s 1-0 last-gasp win in Columbus last weekend; Beckham is suspended for Wednesday’s must-win CONCACAF Champions league game against Morelia.

Sean Franklin remains out with an inflamed knee.

The strain of this stretch of the season, with a game every three or four days – the Galaxy have played nine games in the last month – is showing.

The end is in sight, but it’s another busy and crucial week for the Galaxy with three games in the next eight days inluding next Tuesday’s weather-rearranged game in New York, which Keane will miss to play for Ireland; the Galaxy could clinch their second consecutive Supporters’ Shield with a win over Salt Lake in Utah Carson and a Seattle loss to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.

*Things that make you go hmmm: Juan Pablo Angel now has nine MLS goals so far this season, the Galaxy’s second highest scorers, Mike Magee and Chad Barrett, have five apiece (and six apiece total in all competitions). Landon Donovan is the Galaxy’s top scorer with 12.

I’ll have more on Chivas USA in Tuesday’s column.

*The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team will host a “unique” camp in Carson at Home Depot Center beginning Sunday. Notable locals participating include WPS Rookie of the year Christen Press of Palos Verdes Estates (she can see The Hill, as the Palos Verdes Peninsula is known locally, from the HDC) and Sidney Leroux (UCLA).

Perhaps dangling in front of some players: an opportunity to play for the full USWNT against Sweden Nov. 19 in Arizona in an Olympic qualifying tune-up.

*But that’s not the only national team camp in the South Bay; the U.S. Futsal team have begun a week-long camp at Torrance’s Soccer City.

No fewer than four players who play at Soccer City are on the U.S. Roster: goalkeeper Ryan Oster (North Torrance High); midfielder Alex Robles (Lynwood); and strikers Caio Gesualdi (North Torrance High) and Irvine resident Casey Macias (Pateadores).

You didn’t read this here, but the team trains most days at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. While down there, you can sign up to play yourself, BTW. If you have’t checked the facility out, it’s worth a look.

I plan on writing a story later this week about this first-ever camp in Torrance.

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!