Photo: Paul Rudderow

According to the match preview on MLSsoccer.com published on Thursday morning, Sheanon Williams will miss Friday night’s game against Sporting Kansas City with a concussion.

Also on the injury report with a concussion is backup goalkeeper Thorne Holder.

Actually, if we had been paying attention, we would have known this on Tuesday when the weekly injury report was posted on the league website.

A spokesperson for the Union has confirmed to PSP that Sheanon Williams’ concussion occurred during Saturday night’s match against Columbus. The spokesperson also confirmed Holder’s injury was sustained during Sunday’s reserve match.

Asked about the severity of the injuries and how long both players could be sidelined, the spokesperson told PSP, “Doctors are still evaluating both injuries as concussions require more tests and time than regular bone or muscle injuries.”

William's on the bench during Sunday's reserve game agaisnt Columbus. Photo: Earl Gardner

It is hoped that a more detailed report on the extent of the injuries will be available on Friday.

A hint that something may have been wrong with Williams was evident at Sunday’s reserve team game against Columbus. While the Union squad, including the starters from the previous evening and the injured Faryd Mondragon, were photographed warming up in team training gear, Williams was photographed on the sidelines wearing casual dress.

There was some speculation earlier in the week that Thorne Holder suffered a concussion in the first half of the reserve game following comments on Big Soccer.

On Thursday it was reported that the Union would use a MLS pool goalkeeper to backup Zac MacMath against Kansas City.

In a article about concussion injuries and high school athletes published by the DelcoTimes on Thursday, David Webner, the co-director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship Program in the Crozer-Keystone Health System and a team physician for the Philadelphia Union, described the procedure for returning to play from a concussion.

“Webner said he will not clear athletes until they are symptom-free for six days, a stretch that begins when an athlete gets through 24 hours without suffering symptoms. From there, he or she undergoes light running (Day 1), cardiovascular work (Day 2), light drills (Day 3), light contact (Day 4) and full contact (Day 5). If the athlete is symptom-free after that, he or she can return to full activity.”

All of us at the PSP wish Williams and Holder a speedy and complete recovery.