Santos back in training ahead of schedule, may play with Steel FC in Kansas City

Brazilian forward Sergio Santos is ahead of schedule recovering from a hip injury and could return to the field as soon as this weekend with Bethlehem Steel FC in Kansas City.

Santos is back training with the first team and head coach Jim Curtin said during his weekly press conference on Wednesday that they may have him travel with the Steel group for the USL Championship match.

Kacper Przybylko and Fabinho have also returned to training this week from injury, giving Curtin even more options for his game day roster.

“We’re most likely going to send Sergio with Steel this weekend to get minutes down there in Kansas City on that nice field in that nice stadium,” Curtin said. “It’s a real positive to be getting guys back, like I said it makes for harder decisions for the coach in terms of 18 and starting XI but these are the problems you want when you have a confident team where everybody is competing for minutes.”

The 24-year-old was expected to miss a month after going down with a grade 2 hip flexor last month. He made two sub appearances in the first two games of the season after missing some time in preseason with some knee stiffness.

The Steel game on Saturday kicks off at 5 p.m. eastern time at Children’s Mercy Stadium and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.