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VANCOUVER -- Darren Mattocks hard-luck season has taken a turn for the better. Having recovered from knee surgery, the speedy striker is slated to return to the Vancouver Whitecaps lineup Saturday as they visit the Colorado Rapids. "Talking to the trainers and the coaching staff on what Ive maintained, I think Im ready to go," said Mattocks after practice Tuesday at the University of British Columbia. Mattocks resumed training with the club this week after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last month. The knee bothered him after a game against the Chicago Fire, in which he was a late substitute, and it swelled up while he was en route to a game with the Whitecaps reserves squad in Salt Lake City. The club decided that surgery was the best option, and he underwent the procedure less than a week later. Now, the knee is feeling "pretty good." "Im at a really good level since coming back (to full training) a couple days," said Mattocks. "So thats really good. I feel even sharper than before (the injury.) So thats really good. But I think Ive got a lot of work to do on getting back to match fitness." Mattocks, a 22-year-old Jamaican international who starred at the University of Akron, led the Whitecaps with seven goals as a rookie in 2012. But the proverbial sophomore jinx that often occurs in hockey has also struck him in his second Major League Soccer season. Due to his injury, inconsistent play and international duty, and the strong partnership of Camilo and Kenny Miller, he has started just six of the 13 games in which he has appeared. But crediting the team with providing world-class care and happy to be toiling in North Americas top league, Mattocks said he has not been frustrated by his ordeal. He took the same approach prior to the start of last season when arm burns, suffered in a cooking accident, delayed his pro debut. "I grew up back in Jamaica, and Ive been dealing with adversity for much of my life, growing up back then in my personal life," said Mattocks. The Portmore native declined to discuss his struggles, and he is also not looking back on his ill-fated quest for 20 goals. He set the target in his sights at the outset of the season, without guaranteeing it would happen. He just wants to work his way back into the starting 11, contribute some goals and help the Whitecaps (10-7-6) secure a playoff berth in the ultra-tight Western Conference. Coming off an impressive win over the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, the Caps aim to continue on a strong run that has helped them leap over the playoff bar into a tie for second place with Colorado. Caps coach Martin Rennie is looking forward to seeing Mattocks back in game action after he impressed in the weekss first two workouts. "He looked fantastic today," said Rennie. "Thats probably the best training session hes ever had." Meanwhile, captain Jay DeMerit continued to make progress from a torn Achilles tendon that has kept him out since early in the first game of the season. DeMerit is well ahead of schedule on his return from an injury that requires six to eight months of recovery. He is close to returning after about three months off, but still a ways away from being game-ready.. "Ive had another good week of training," said DeMerit. "The sharpness is coming on slowly but surely. Its actually been kind of funny, and kind of frustrating in my own eyes. You kind of get there pretty quick, but now the last fiver per cent of it takes the longest." The 33-year-old Green Bay, Wis., native still hopes to return to the pitch before he weds retired Canadian Olympic ski cross gold medallist Ashleigh McIvor in her hometown of Whistler, B.C., later this month. "Were monitoring (the recovery) very closely every day, and every day Im getting stronger," he said. "But I can definitely say that I have some sharpness to work on." Notes: DeMerit, central defender Andy OBrien, Rennie and other Whitecaps left after practice to take part in the second annual Hope and Health soccer clinics for youngsters from Vancouver Island Coastal Salish First Nations in Ladysmith, B.C. McIvor also went on the trip to take part in opening ceremonies. a Whitecaps striker Kenny Miller will suit up for Scotland in a highly-anticipated friendly against England at Wembley Stadium in London on Wednesday. The two United Kingdom rivals have gone 14 years without facing each other. Jim Kelly Jersey . Pekovic had an MRI test Tuesday on his right ankle that revealed bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled pad that cushions the joint. Taron Johnson Bills Jersey . Calgarys Bo Levi Mitchell and Montreals Troy Smith will be the starting quarterbacks in a CFL season-opener for the first time in their careers. Both want to reinforce their No. 1 status. You can watch the game live in the first half of a doubleheader on TSN and TSN GO at 3:00pm et/Noon pt. http://www.authenticbillsfanatic.com/c-8...len-jersey.aspx. Brooks replaces right-hander Yordano Ventura, who left his last outing with a sore elbow. Ventura is expected to miss one start. Brooks has made one relief appearance for the Royals this season, allowing six runs in two innings in a May 3 loss to Detroit. Eddie Yarbrough Bills Jersey . Terrance Broadway threw for 227 yards and Hunter Stover kicked three field goals as the Ragin Cajuns won an unprecedented fourth straight New Orleans Bowl with a 16-3 triumph over Nevada. Buffalo Bills Jerseys . The 28-year-old from Rochester, Alta., was selected by the Redblacks from the Saskatchewan Roughriders roster in the 2013 CFL Expansion Draft.S-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands -- Fifth-seeded Dmitry Tursunov of Russia beat Bradley Klahn of the United States 6-3, 7-6 (3) Monday in the first round of the Topshelf Open, a grass-court warm-up ahead of Wimbledon. Tursunov had little trouble in the first set, but each player had a break in the second to set up the tiebreaker which Tursunov won easily. Top-seeded David Ferrer, who lost to Rafael Nadal in last years French Open final, withdrew from the tournament without playing due to stomach problems.dddddddddddd. The mens event includes defending champion Nicolas Mahut of France while French Open finalist Simona Halep is the top-seeded player in the womens tournament. In other first round mens matches, sixth-seeded Vasek Pospisil of Canada beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia, 6-4, 7-5. ' ' '