INJURIES SLOW GALAXY'S MARTINO.

Byline: BILLY WITZ

Staff Writer

The stitches and scar on Kyle Martino's still-healing thumb, remnants of surgery last month to repair a torn tendon, aren't for the squeamish. Neither is the nasty smell on the wound's dressing, which sometimes wakes Martino from a sound sleep.

The same could be said for Martino's game of late: It's not much to look at, and often leaves people holding their nose.

"Lately, I haven't contributed and haven't been the player I was in the beginning," Martino said. "I've definitely gotten into a little bit of a rut lately of just trying to get through games."

For the first three months of the season, it was hard to find anyone on the Galaxy who'd played better than their left-side midfielder.

One of the few players with the skill -- or inclination -- to take on defenders, Martino provided a complementary attacking option to Landon Donovan and also developed into a defensive pest.

Acquired from Columbus last summer, the 26-year-old appeared on the way to resurrecting a once-promising career that began by being named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2002 and an All-Star the following season.

In a 2-0 win over Chicago on July 4, Martino twice juked his way into the penalty box and was taken down, leading to penalty kicks that Donovan converted. He just missed scoring on a diving header against Chelsea.

So, where has he been lately?

Martino is like many amongst the Galaxy's legion of walking wounded. A groin injury, suffered in the July 21 exhibition against Chelsea, had him in and out of the lineup for a month. Then a torn tendon in his thumb, which required surgery last month, has forced him to play with a soft cast.

Worst, though, has been the beating his legs -- and his 145-pound body -- have taken from the over-loaded schedule.

"I don't want to make excuses, but when you start a game feeling like you just finished one," said Martino, who wears scuba shorts to keep his groin and hip flexors from further injury. "Rather than coming into the game knowing that I feel good and just going at people 7/8 running, sprinting and taking off 7/8 I'm not sure if my body can handle it. Taking off on a sprint, I feel twinges and my legs kind of letting me down."

Martino scored his first goal of the season Saturday, capping a 3-0 win over Colorado with a lunging header that he celebrated with a dance at the corner flag.

But that was it as far as fancy footwork.

Most of the night he showed little interest in running at -- or away from -- the Rapids, and couldn't do much with several opportunities. He sent a soft cross that was easily gathered after taking a through ball; a soft header off a cross that was effortlessly taken in; and nearly whiffed completely on a volley off another cross.

Despite the dip in his performance and the need to get healthy, Martino has missed only two league games 7/8 one for which he was suspended 7/8 and played more minutes than anyone but Ty Harden. One reason is that with injuries and inexperience, there aren't many real alternatives.

"I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help the team," Martino said. "There aren't too many people we have to fill in so seeing all these injuries, if you can walk, if you can get out there, if you can give anything, the way I see it is you have a responsibility to get out there. Unfortunately, it's hurt the team because I haven't played great."

[e-mail]

[phone]