Real Salt Lake: 2 midfielders return to lineup

Real Salt Lake will likely welcome back two all-star midfielders to its starting lineup for this weekend's critical clash in Houston.

Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales are both expected to be in RSL's starting 11 after some recent absences. Beckerman was suspended for last weekend's Chicago match because of an accumulation of yellow cards, whereas Morales was limited to a substitute role because of an ankle injury.

Beckerman is a lock to get back on the field, and RSL coach Jason Kreis said Morales is in consideration after practicing fully the past three training sessions. If Morales is even close to 100 percent, he'll likely start as his team is desperate for a road victory in its late-season push for a playoff berth.

As for Clint Mathis, who rolled his ankle in the opening 10 minutes of last week's draw with Chicago, his coach said he's a long shot to get back on the field.

Beckerman is anxious to make his return to the RSL lineup after a lengthy break that dates back to a 1-0 victory over Kansas City on Aug. 29. Despite the dry spell, his fitness and sharpness shouldn't be an issue after spending a week and a half training with the U.S. National Team.

"It's a good level to be at. Hopefully I can just maintain it," he said.

A healthy Beckerman and Morales need to be on the field together for every minute of Real Salt Lake's last five matches if it has any hope of reaching the playoffs.

"I wish we didn't have to worry about the playoffs and we'd already be in, but that's the way we've put the season so far for ourselves," said Beckerman.

HOPING FOR A LOOK: Since starting back-to-back matches against New England and Chivas USA three weeks ago, Rachid El Khalifi has yet to see the field for Real Salt Lake as a starter or substitute.

He's in the mix for playing time this Saturday at Houston, and El Khalifi hopes he gets another shot soon. "I didn't show them how I really can play," he said. "I think I can do more."

El Khalifi made one other appearance as a substitute since signing with RSL on July 28. It's a clear indication that the club isn't quite as dependent upon its midseason reinforcements like it was last year.

"When we added Rachid, Pablo (Campos) and Nelson (Gonzalez), it was more about depth and competition for positions than it was about adding somebody to come in and take us to the next level," said Kreis. "Where last year we had stagnated and we had reached a certain plateau and we needed to add some players to take us to the next level."