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Portland Timbers defender Chris Klute works with a trainer during practice at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona on February 4, 2016.

(Jamie Goldberg/Staff)

Portland Timbers left back Chris Klute continued to work with a trainer during practice Monday, more than three weeks after the start of preseason training camp.

When the Timbers made the decision to sign Klute as the expected replacement for outgoing left back Jorge Villafana, the club knew he was coming off a meniscus surgery.

But Timbers coach Caleb Porter said that they never expected him to be out this long.

"He's taking longer than we thought," Porter said. "He just came in with that knee a lot weaker than we thought. In terms of the rehab and all that, he didn't go through the appropriate rehab protocol."

Porter said that he is hopeful that Klute might be healthy enough to see some minutes in Portland's upcoming preseason tournament, the Simple Invitational.

But with just three weeks until the start of the MLS regular season, it might be difficult for Klute to challenge for the starting spot on opening day.

"With him missing three weeks physically and then, obviously, just his integration into our team and all that, that's definitely been a setback," Porter said. "But we've got other options."

If Klute cannot start against the Columbus Crew on March 6, Porter said that the team might make the decision to move captain Liam Ridgewell to the left back position and start Jamaican defender Jermaine Taylor alongside Nat Borchers at center back.

Ridgewell is expected to return to Portland Wednesday night after a short-term loan stint with English Football League Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion. Ridgewell left his final game with Brighton due to calf tightness, but Porter said Ridgewell is healthy and should return to Portland ready to play.

Ridgewell, who primarily plays center back for the Timbers, has been playing left back with Brighton, making it a simple move if the Timbers need to use him at left back on opening day.

Porter said he is also hoping to give left backs Andy Thoma and Zarek Valentin good runs in the Simple Invitational to see if either left back can challenge for the starting position on opening day.

"The nice thing (with moving Ridgewell to left back) is that it gives us our most experienced guys," Porter said. "Taylor and Borchers have looked really good together. It keeps Taylor on the field and Ridgewell has been playing left back with Brighton. It would be a short-term band-aid."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg