Portland Thorns defender Emily Menges was back in training Tuesday, but won't be on the field when the club hosts the Seattle Reign Saturday.

Menges has missed the entire 2018 NWSL season so far due to what has been classified as right tibia stress syndrome. Thorns coach Mark Parsons said he wants Menges to train for a full two weeks before the club decides when she can see game minutes. The Thorns should have a better idea of Menges' status ahead of next week's match against the Orlando Pride on May 12.

"I don't feel confident at all of putting a date on it because she's crucial -- Any team in the world without Menges is not as good of a team -- and this has been a complex injury, something she has had a lot of history with," Parsons said. "We really want to nail it.

Thorns defender Meghan Klingenberg wasn't in training Tuesday after re-injuring her abdominal muscle during last Saturday's game against the Utah Royals. Klingenberg started against Utah after missing a match against the Washington Spirit on April 20 due to an abdominal strain. But she had to leave the match in the 65th minute after being hit in the stomach and aggravating her abdominal muscle.

While Klingenberg did not train Tuesday, Parsons said he is hopeful that she will be ready in time for Saturday's game against Seattle.

"We're working toward having her back for Saturday," Parsons said. "We're hopeful. We're aiming for her to be ready to play Saturday, but it's going to be really close."

Thorns goalkeeper Bella Geist (left quad strain) did not train Tuesday either. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch (right meniscus tear) and winger Hayley Raso (left knee sprain) also remain out and are not expected to return to the pitch for around a month.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg