Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey is nearing full health, but he might not be back in the net for the Portland Timbers any time soon.

The Timbers are riding a seven-game unbeaten streak with goalkeeper Jake Gleeson on the field and Timbers coach Caleb Porter said that he isn't about to pull Gleeson from the starting lineup when the team is playing well.

"We're not just going to give Jake's job away when he's done so well," Porter said. "That wouldn't be fair to him. Clearly, he's done well enough to keep that job... But it doesn't mean (Adam) can't win it back, either."

The Timbers brought Kwarasey in as their starting keeper ahead of the 2015 season and the 28-year-old has made 40 regular season starts for the Timbers since last year.

Kwarasey won MLS Save of the Year in 2015 for an amazing diving stop against Real Salt Lake and also played a massive role in the MLS Cup Playoffs, where he converted a PK before saving a penalty from Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jon Kempin to lead the Timbers to a wild shootout victory in the knockout round.

But Kwarasey injured his finger in a game against the New England Revolution in April and hasn't made an appearance for the Timbers since.

Instead, Gleeson has stepped into the starting role in Kwarasey's place and proven himself on the field for the Timbers.

Gleeson has made 12 starts for the Timbers this season, recording 59 saves, a 78.7 save percentage and a 1.33 goals against average. With Gleeson in the net, the Timbers have recorded three clean sheets in the last five games. The 26-year-old also won MLS Player of the Week after making four outstanding saves to lead the Timbers to a 2-1 win over Toronto FC at Providence Park on May 1

Kwarasey returned to training this week and Porter said he could be available to be on the bench Sunday when the Timbers face the Seattle Sounders.

Porter said that the Timbers are happy to have two good options at goalkeeper, but indicated that the team would be sticking with Gleeson as the starter, at least in the short-term.

"In no other position would we swap a guy out if we've been winning games and it's no different in the way I see it in the goalkeeper position," Porter said. "Can it eventually change where Adam wins his job back? Yes, just like it can change for any other position depending on Adam and Jake's performance."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg