Steve Zakuani Will Make Return Tonight, Sounders confirm

UPDATE: A Sounders spokesperson confirmed that Zakuani will play in tonight's game.

Steve Zakuani's chances of making his return for Friday's Reserve League game has moved to decidedly more than 50-50. The player's agent, Richard Motzkin, announced via Twitter than Zakuani was expected to play against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Everyone hands together for @stevezakuani11 as he makes his return tonight for @soundersfc v @WhitecapsFC in an MLS Reserve match.#AWESOME

— Richard Motzkin (@RichardMotzkin) June 1, 2012

The game will be played at Starfire Sports Complex, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. and a $5 suggestion donation the only cost for admission. The match will also be streamed as an audio-only podcast on SoundersFC.com.

This would mark Zakuani's most significant step toward returning to the playing field since he suffered a broken leg last April. Zakuani's only game action with the Sounders up until now has been a lone scrimmage against Gonzaga University at the start of April, although he also played in a scrimmage between the Academy and U23 teams. The Sounders have only played one Reserve League match since then, which Zakuani sat out after announce he expected to play.