Alex Morgan likely to return from injury on June 7

Alex Morgan has been out since November 10, 2013 with a stress reaction in her left ankle, but she is set to return to the field on June 7, according to Equalizer Soccer. Morgan's recovery has taken longer than first expected, but she is finally nearing fitness.

Morgan's stress reaction came while playing for the United States against Mexico and was not supposed to result in an eight-month absence, but she has struggled to get healthy again. Recently, she has returned to training with the Portland Thorns and head coach Paul Riley expects her back on the field for the team's first match in June, although he did say that her return could even be earlier.

The U.S. has two friendlies in June, on the 14th and 19th against France. It is unclear if Morgan will be called up for those matches because she will just be returning from injury. Jill Ellis may choose to leave her with the Thorns and let her get back up to full speed before calling her up for the U.S.

With Morgan out, the Americans have had to turn to other players up top. Abby Wambach and Sydney Leroux started the U.S.' last match, a 1-1 draw with Canada, while Leroux was the lone striker the match before that. Morgan's injury also gave Christen Press chances, while Sarah Hagen got a look at the Algarve Cup and Katie Stengel was called into her first camp last month.

Morgan's return comes just in time for the U.S. Ellis is the Americans' new manager and she only has a summer to prepare for World Cup qualifying, then eight months before the Women's World Cup. With time running out, she needs her best players available to her and Morgan is certainly one of them.