Montreal Impact midfielder Marco Donadel, right, had an up-and-down first MLS campaign in 2015, leading the league with 13 yellow cards.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Marco Donadel tested his sore leg Thursday but the Italian midfielder still isn't sure if he'll be ready for the Montreal Impact's home opener against the New York Red Bulls.
Donadel felt pain in the warmup before he played the first 56 minutes of the Impact's surprise 3-2 victory over the Whitecaps in Vancouver in the MLS season opener for both clubs on Sunday.
"I tried to train today because it was a light [practice]," Donadel said. "It's half and half.
"I'm not 100 per cent now but the game is in two days."
The Impact face the Red Bulls on Saturday on the artificial turf at Olympic Stadium.
If Donadel can't go, the player who replaced him on Sunday, Calum Mallace, should step into one of the holding midfield spots alongside veteran Eric Alexander, who had a strong game in Vancouver.
"It's not serious," coach Mauro Biello said of Donadel's injury. "He had an MRI and it showed nothing but it could be something that needs a little more time to clear up.
"We have Calum Mallace who can step in. He did very well when he went in the last game."
The Impact were looking for stronger play from the defensive midfield spots this season despite letting go veteran Nigel Reo-Coker, mostly over salary cap concerns.
Donadel had an up-and-down first MLS campaign in 2015, leading the league with 13 yellow cards, but looked to get stronger and more disciplined as the season progressed.
He feels more settled now. A year ago, moving from Italy to North America was a shock in itself. Then he found himself on a team playing high-pressure matches on a run to the CONCACAF Champions League final in his first few months.
"Last year, I went without playing for six months and then we played immediately in Mexico, with no preseason," he said. "Everything is better now.
"I know the league, because it is pretty different from Italy. Every game last year was [against] a new team, a new kind of play. Now, teams changed some players, but I know how the Red Bulls or Vancouver are. Everything is easier."
He said he also knows his teammates better: Which are right or left-footed, which ones like to press forward and which stay back and how they like to receive a pass.
The Impact's CONCACAF adventure ended with a 4-2 loss to Mexico's top team, Club America, before 61,004 spectators at the Big O.
"It was a bad result but a great memory," Donadel said. "Incredible. One of the best feelings in my career.
"I hope there will be a lot of people on Saturday. It's a great match. Red Bulls is the best team in our league. It's hard match, like Vancouver, but we're ready."
Biello had high praise for Alexander's play in Vancouver. The American was acquired from the Red Bulls along with fullback Ambroise Oyongo last January for midfielder Felipe Martins and the first overall allocation pick, which turned out to be Sacha Kljestan. All four players will likely start the game.
Another holding midfielder, Patrice Bernier, as well as forward Cameron Porter and third-string goalie Maxime Crepeau are out with injuries while star striker Didier Drogba is working on a sore knee in California. Midfielder Andres Romero is out until mid-season after knee surgery.