Chicago Fire almost full strength

Chicago Fire coach Frank Yallop often talks about how he wishes he could have his full roster available for games.

With injuries and international duty, Yallop has missed several of his top players lately. That's starting to change now that designated players Shaun Maloney and David Accam are healthy again and Joevin Jones is back from the Gold Cup.

Only Jeff Larentowicz (neck) and Mike Magee (knee) are expected to miss Saturday's home match against New England (7:30 p.m., Comcast SportsNet). Larentowicz will start full training next week and looks like he will avoid season-ending surgery.

"We're starting to look a bit more full strength-ish for us," Yallop said.

Has the recent rash of injuries been more than other teams have had to deal with?

"I think it seems like it," Yallop said. "I think it's just been all at the same time, too. You can kind of handle a couple of guys out. We had a glut, sort of, the last five weeks.

"I think Shaun and David the last 5-6 weeks hurt (the team). If one of them is out and one of them is playing, I think your team is a lot better still. But you have both difference makers out and you have a few other things go on like Magee and Jeff and (Jones) is away, and all of a sudden half your team is not available. I'm not saying we shouldn't be able to get results, but it makes it more difficult. Let's put it that way."

The Fire has little time to rest between Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup victory and Saturday, so lineup changes are likely.

"We're hoping to keep some continuity in the team," Yallop said. "It's never easy with the quick turnaround."

Magee update:

Yallop admitted it's not just Magee's knee keeping him out. Magee's girlfriend gave birth a few days ago to their son.

"And yeah, he's probably slept three hours in five days also," Yallop said. "It's never easy, that. So maybe it's a good time for him to get all that stuff out of the way and just do it up next week for next weekend's game."

Magee watched training Friday from the sideline.

Right back at you:

Yallop said he expects Lovel Palmer to regain his spot at right back eventually, but for now rookie Matt Polster is doing very well there.

Palmer is working to improve his fitness, Yallop said.

"Yeah," Yallop said enthusiastically. "I think Lovel's looked good the last 3-4-5 days he's trained. It's not a punishment. It's a realism that we need to get him a little fitter and get him playing like he can play. I think he's took it very well and he's ready to go now. That's good."

Polster says he's starting to get the hang of it after two games at right back instead of his usual defensive midfielder role.

"I'm getting comfortable as games go on, obviously," Polster said. "The last game I felt much more comfortable there than the first game against Columbus. I think as the games go on and I keep playing there, I'll just get more and more comfortable."

"I think Matt Polster's done well at that position," Yallop added. "Not that he's going to stay there the whole time."