Armstrong just wants to get out there and play

Tyrone Walker
The Post and Courier

Stephen Armstrong and the Charleston Battery host Rochester today at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island at 7:30 o.m.

If Charleston midfielder Stephen Armstrong had his way, he would be in the Battery's starting lineup tonight against Rochester.

The Battery's leading scorer from a year ago, Armstrong just finished playing a full season for the Chicago Storm in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

The Battery takes on the Rochester Raging Rhinos tonight at 7:30 at Blackbaud Stadium.

"If it was up to me, I'd start and play all 90 minutes," said Armstrong, who led the Battery with 10 goals and two assists in 2007.

"I feel good. I feel like I'm match fit and I could probably go 90 minutes, but that's probably not the smartest thing I could do to my body. I want to play and I want to get out there, but I should probably wait another week before I get on the field."

Armstrong arrived in the Lowcountry earlier this week and will take part in his first training session this morning. Because of the wear and tear on a player's body from playing a season in the MISL, Battery coach Mike Anhaeuser is reluctant to put Armstrong in the lineup for tonight's game.

"I would be surprised if Stephen was able to play (tonight)," Anhaeuser said. "Maybe we can get him in there for a few minutes at the end of the game, but I doubt it. I don't want to rush him back onto the field too quickly and risk an injury. Once he has been here a week or so to train and he's match fit, he'll be out there."

Armstrong said the transition from indoor soccer to the outdoor game won't be very difficult.

"It's much harder going the other way," Armstrong said. "The indoor game is much quicker. You have so much more time and space to work with when you're playing outdoors. When you're playing indoors your decision-making process is so much faster. I think it actually helps you when go back to playing outdoors because you have so much more time. The game kind of slows down for you."

One player who will definitely not be in the lineup to tonight's game with Rochester will be outside defender John Wilson. Wilson was ejected from the Battery's game last weekend with Carolina after receiving a red card for a heavy challenge on RailHawks midfielder Martin Nunez. Wilson was suspended by the USL First Division for one game.

Kevin Nylen, who missed the entire preseason with a hip-flexor injury, will be inserted into the lineup in Wilson's spot. Nylen, who missed most of last season with a broken leg, played the final 20 minutes last week in the Battery's 1-0 loss to the RailHawks.

"We've got some depth on the team this year and Kevin is a big part of that," Anhaeuser said. "Kevin can play almost anywhere in the back, and it's not like putting a rookie out there like we had to do last season."

Ian Fuller (hamstring), Chris Corcoran (ankle) and Dominic Cianciarulo (hamstring) all practiced this week, but are not expected to play.

"They've been training, but probably are not quite match fit yet," Anhaeuser said. "I'd like for them to have one more week to get fully healthy and be ready to go next Friday night against Miami."

Reach Andrew Miller at apmiller@postandcourier.com. and check out the new Charleston Battery blog at www.charleston.net/blogs/battery/