Union's Jay Simpson available for D.C. United game

Union forward Jay Simpson, who suffered a rib injury during a 2-2 draw with visiting Toronto on March 11, has returned to full-time training and is available for the game Saturday at D.C. United.

Simpson sat out the Union's 2-1 loss at Orlando on March 18. The Union have been off since then for the international break.

"He's fine," Union coach Jim Curtin said Wednesday.

Simpson said he has been training since last week.

"It is still a bit sore, but there has been major improvement," Simpson said.

Curtin wouldn't say whether Simpson would return to the starting lineup.

C.J. Sapong, the starter before Simpson's arrival this year, replaced Simpson in the 29th minute against Toronto and scored. Sapong also started against Orlando and had the Union's lone goal.

Curtin also said that midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, who played in the two World Cup qualifiers for the United States, will be available Saturday.

Bedoya entered Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Panama in the 69th minute.

"He did a good job [Tuesday] night in a shorter period, only 20 minutes. But in some ways I was kind of happy with that because he will be fresh going into the weekend with D.C.," Curtin said.

Union midfielder Warren Creavalle, who has yet to play this year, will also be available after competing in a friendly for Guyana on Tuesday, a 0-0 draw against Martinique.

Outside midfielder Chris Pontius will play despite suffering a broken right hand against Orlando. He is playing with a plastic cast.

Defender Josh Yaro, who underwent shoulder surgery in early February, has returned to running, and Curtin said he is ahead of schedule.

Midfielder Maurice Edu, who missed last season with two different leg injuries and has yet to appear this season, had another scan, and the team will review the results before deciding the next step in his rehab.

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard