It's been nearly a month -- a span of five full matches -- since stalwart central midfielder Matt Polster has been in the lineup for the Chicago Fire, but his absence could come to an end this week.
The 23-year-old U.S. youth international has not played since Chicago's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match vs. Indy Eleven on June 15, when a clearance attempt by the opposition caught Polster square-on and resulted in a concussion. After progressing through the necessary protocol, Polster returned to training last week but was absent from the squad Saturday in Toronto while he regained full match fitness.