FOXBOROUGH — Revolution manager Brad Friedel said Tuesday morning that defender Michael Mancienne is "day-to-day" following a pre-match back injury that yanked him from the season-opening starting XI in Dallas Saturday.
Jalil Anibaba, who was listed as starting on the bench when the lineups were released at about 3:40 p.m. ET, replaced Mancienne in the lineup, which then left the Revs with no back line defensive options on the bench for the match against FCD, a 1-1 draw.
NBC Sports Boston had shown video of head athletic trainer Evan Allen helping Mancienne off the pitch, with the Englishman holding his lower back in the area of his oblique.
Friedel wouldn’t confirm if it was Mancienne’s oblique.
“I’m not a doctor,” he said.
Should Mancienne not be ready to play Saturday afternoon’s home opener against Columbus (2 p.m., NBC Sports Boston), New England would more than likely utilize the same back four that it used against the Burn for the Crew: Edgar Castillo, Anibaba, Antonio Delamea, and Brandon Bye.
And with Andrew Farrell sidelined with an eye injury, it leaves Friedel with only one signed defensive option for the back — Gabriel Somi.
While Friedel re-iterated his desire to bring a new face into the squad — “We will be bringing in one more. We’re working around the clock on it. I don’t have a date, but one more will definitely be coming in,” he said — he wouldn’t say if that new player would be defensive depth.
“I like the squad that we’ve assembled, and any additions will make the squad stronger,” he said.
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Friedel also noted that loanee striker Juan Fernando Caicedo (muscle injury) is also day-to-day.
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Other highlights from media availability Tuesday:
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The Revs trained inside the Empower Field House Tuesday and will train in Foxborough every day leading into Saturday’s home opener against Columbus.
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No Revs players made the MLS Team of the Week for Match Day 1, but midfielder Carles Gil was noted as the Best Debutante. So that’s something? I guess.
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The club announced Monday afternoon that the friendly with English Premier League side Chelsea F.C., which was announced back on Nov. 30, will be a midweek contest slated for Wednesday, May 15 at 8 p.m.
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There are, of course, some detractors to the midweek game’s timing, given that school will still in session across Massachusetts. An 8 p.m. start means getting out of Gillette close to 10 p.m.