Newly-signed Danish winger Brian Nielsen is expected to finally arrive in New York tomorrow night and should train with his new club Thursday. His transatlantic flight, like that of thousands, delayed because of the volcanic ash in Iceland.
“I think they open today, the airports in Scandinavia and England, too,” Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said. “He has a flight tomorrow.”
Backe said the 23-year-old, who is on loan from Danish side Vejle Boldkulb, isn’t match fit and will likely be jet lagged, but the coach expects to throw Nielsen into the fray immediately.
“He needs some games, but I still think he should be good enough to make an impact,” Backe said.
While the speedy Dane’s arrival is imminent, English forward Luke Rodgers won’t be here anytime soon.
“It will take time, weeks,” Backe said. “I’m not sure it will be a deal in June. If we’re lucky he gets the Visa earlier, but it seems to be a problem.”
A problem, Backe said, stemming from Rodgers off-the-field problems. He was arrested in 2002 for an alleged assault on Hartlepool defender Chris Westwood in a car park, in 2003 he was ordered to do 100 hours of community service and pay $7,500 in compensation for burning a girl with fireworks and last year was arrested for an affray in a Nottingham city centre bar.
Despite that, Backe said the 28-year-old from Notts County is worth the wait.
“He’s the player we need for the balance in the team with his pace,” Backe said. “That’s why I think I can be patient and just wait.”
As for Italian news reports of Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero joining the Red Bulls, Backe chalked that up to pure speculation, perhaps fueled by the club’s announcement yesterday of a friendly against the Turin side next month.
“I saw it yesterday in Swedish newspapers, I never heard about it,” Backe said. “That was the first time yesterday. It’s only rumors, I can assure you.”
On the injury front, Welsh midfielder Carl Robinson trained fully and was pain free after additional swelling on his right knee Saturday. He had his knee drained for a second time in two weeks.
“It’s better today. It was a bit sore yesterday after the game Saturday,” Robinson said. “I had the knee drained again on Saturday, but it’s good today. I trained fully in the session and felt very good. Things are looking up.”
Enigmatic Mac Kandji left the club’s training facility at Montclair State University on crutches. He suffered a right foot injury and is expected to have a scan this afternoon.
