Revolution Evaluating Options At Left Back Ahead Of Nashville Game

Porter gives injury updates on Will Sands and Peyton Miller before discussing Ilay Feingold.

Photo Courtesy of Alex Roldan

The New England Revolution are assessing their options at left back after Will Sands departed last Saturday’s preseason finale early.

Sands played 81 minutes against Hartford Athletic before leaving the field. On Thursday, Caleb Pongratz of Prost Amerika asked head coach Caleb Porter for an update.

“We’re still evaluating that every day,” Porter said. “We’ll make decisions, like always, that we think are best to help us win the game against Nashville. We think Will will be close to being available. Peyton [Miller] is still a week out or two.”

If Sands isn’t available to play against Nashville, Ilay Feingold is an option. The 20-year-old, who replaced Sands last weekend, almost had a goal.

While Porter didn’t want to talk too much about his options, he did emphasize faith in Feingold when asked about him.

“I don’t know if I want to talk about scenarios before I know scenarios, but Ilay just in general, we feel is a really good, young player for us,” Porter said. “We brought him here to be the right back, but most outside backs at some point in their careers, in their time as players, have played both sides. So, that’s not a tough shift, typically, for that to happen.”

Feingold usually plays right back and is naturally right-footed, but he is capable of adjusting.

“It’s not maybe as natural as you want, but as far as the defensive side, especially, and the attacking movements, those are the same,” Porter said. “It’s just the little detail of the cross, figuring out now how to cross.”

Even if Feingold’s name isn’t called on Saturday, Porter is expecting big things from him.

“We feel like he’s a young player who is going to play a big role for us,” Porter said. “He’s athletic, a good defender, and he’s a good player on the ball.”