LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps Match Updates: Landon Donovan Doubtful

News trickled out this afternoon that Landon Donovan will likely not be available for the LA Galaxy match tonight against Vancouver Whitecaps. The hamstring injury is improving, but he just needs more time before he returns to the 18 man gameday lineup. LAGalaxy.com reports that Donovan missed practice again on Friday.

Landon Donovan, with a left hamstring strain, is still listed as questionable in the injury report, along with Edson Buddle, David Junior Lopes, and Kyle Nakazawa. But the word Bruce Arena used at practice on Friday was doubtful. Donovan has described his status as day to day when asked about it.

Landon Donovan picked up the injury August 15th in the US victory over Mexico at Estadio Azteca. Whether Donovan will return with the National Team for their Qualifier matches next week or with the Galaxy on September 14th is yet to be seen. The US will announce their roster for that series on Sunday.

The match against Colorado was originally scheduled for September 15th, but was changed to the fourteenth for strategic reasons:

"We have made this decision, with the support of Major League Soccer and our opponents the Colorado Rapids, for purely competitive reasons," said Galaxy Vice President Chris Klein. "We want to position our team as best we can to be successful in our trip to Puerto Rico on September 19 to face the Islanders in the CONCACAF Champions League and felt that we would be more adequately prepared for that important game with two extra days of rest and training ahead of it."

The Galaxy are in great position going into Puerto Rico, atop Group 5 with six points. With the international break next week, moving the match from Saturday to Friday really is a win win situation. With a victory tonight, Cal will also be in a good way for MLS play going into the break.