September 2, 2012
ONLY A BRIEF PAUSE
Fire captain’s injury layoff shorter than expected

Fire captain Logan Pause replaced Chris Rolfe in the 85th minute of Sunday’s 3-1 win over Houston, his first appearance since suffering broken ribs and a collapsed lung on August 17. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill---When he broke his ribs in a game against the Philadelphia Union on August 17, Chicago Fire captain Logan Pause was supposed to be out 4-6 weeks.

That recovery time was cut considerably short, as he made an appearance as a late sub in the Fire's 3-1 win over Houston on Sunday.

”“I saw him in training," said Fire coach Frank Klopas. "He was training, the doctors saw him, he was cleared, he felt like he was ready to start the game, and in the training he had a couple of hard knocks and he felt good. He was ready to go. He really wanted to start this game which was a remarkable comeback.

"You have a guy like that, he’s the captain for a reason. From a health standpoint he was ready to go."

Health issues aside, Klopas said it was important to get the captain in the game, for the team and the fans, so bringing him in to replace Chris Rolfe in the 85th seemed like the right move.

"It was a great lift for the team at that moment, and I think it was being at home and the fans, I think he lifted the team in the last five minutes that he came in and did a great job,” said Klopas.

Pause said the big issue with the injury, a partially collapsed lung, cleared up quickly.

“After about ten days I got an x-ray and it confirmed the collapsed lung had healed, which was the big thing they wanted to make sure was healed," Pause said. "I’m still managing with the ribs. It is what it is. That said, as long as I can tolerate it each day then I can keep pushing along and put myself in a position to come back as quickly as possible.”