Diego Valeri, Will Johnson both say they won't play vs. Sounders

Diego Valeri and Will Johnson have both missed all of the 2015 season while recovering from injuries they suffered last season. There had been some thought that at least one of them might be available off the bench for Sunday's game against the Seattle Sounders.

According to the players, their Portland Timbers return will have to wait.

Diego Valeri told the press that he was aiming to return in the match against Vancouver. #RCTID

— William Conwell (@williamconwell) April 23, 2015

Will Johnson talked to the press today for the first time since preseason. He confirmed that he will play in AZ on Saturday. #RCTID

— William Conwell (@williamconwell) April 23, 2015

This news will come as an undeniable relief for the Sounders, especially in light of the news that Chad Marshall was suspended for the match.

Valeri is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in the final game of the 2014 season that was supposed to keep him out for five months. He has just resumed full training this week. Johnson is recovering from a broken leg that he picked up in late September that was supposed to keep him out six months. He, too, has resumed training this week, but unlike Valeri is apparently doing a rehab stint with the Timbers' USL side.

Without Valeri and Johnson in the lineup, the Timbers have endured a bit of an uneven season. Their nine points in seven matches is not particularly bad, but they've also failed to score more than one goal in a game just two times. On the road, they've scored two goals in three games