Rowdies’ Christie to undergo tests after blow to head

Posted Jul 6, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 6, 2010 at 11:48 AM

After suffering a nasty knock to the head from a late free kick in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Miami FC, FC Tampa Bay Rowdies midfielder Jeremy Christie was scheduled to go for a scan on Tuesday afternoon to check for any lingering symptoms of a potential concussion.

Part of a defensive wall, Christie was struck flush by a shot by Miami’s Christian Gomez in stoppage time, which left him unable to remember much of the game he’d just played in, including his 82nd-minute goal.

“The guys all got tested in preseason with the computer test to check for concussions,” Rowdies coach Paul Dalglish said. “We’ll find out today when he goes for his re-test, his re-evaluation. It’s pretty worrying, though, when someone can’t remember scoring a goal.”

There was some good news on the spate of injuries that have struck the Rowdies recently, with Joe Donoho returning to practice alongside those who played a limited role in Sunday’s game. Should Christie be unable to go against NSC Minnesota on Saturday night, though, it would leave the team without three regular starters with Aaron Wheeler and Erik Ustruck also sidelined.

PASCAL’S PROGRESS: Maybe the most dangerous Rowdie on the field on Sunday was winger Pascal Millien, who regularly found time and space down the right side which allowed him to challenge Miami left back Mike Randolph.

The work Millien put in on Sunday is something the Dalglish has been trying to get more of from his rookie winger, and the attention to detail on his play is starting to pay dividends on the field.

“Pascal did in the game exactly what we’ve been trying to get him to do,” Dalglish said. “Movement to get on the ball, when he gets it, getting his body facing forward with his first touch so he can commit people one-v-one. Mike Randolph’s a good player and he’s very, very quick.”

Dalglish added that while Randolph’s speed allowed him to stay in touch with Millien for most of the game, there are others that Millien will be able to take advantage of as the season progresses if he maintains that level of play.

“If he can do that against Mike Randolph, he can do that against anybody in this league because there’s nobody in this league playing left back who’s as quick as Mike Randolph,” Dalglish said. “If Pascal can do it to him then he can do it to anyone in this league.”