Alex Morgan nearing full return from injury

Alex Morgan is just about back from her ankle sprain. Three months after going down in the United States' World Cup qualifying win over Guatemala, Morgan is training 11v11 and is working on getting her form back after such an extended absence.

"Alex needs more time on the final piece, which is finishing," U.S. manager Jill Ellis said. "We’ve spent a lot of time on technical work with her, because she has been off the field for quite a while. She’s coming along great. We’re very excited with where she is."

Ellis' comments about whether or not Morgan had participated in full contact training were unclear, but Morgan clarified on twitter.

@StarsStripesFC I am definitely in full contact, never missed a practice this camp.

— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) January 28, 2015

While a three month recovery for a sprain seems extreme, Morgan's injury was particularly nasty. When she went down in the match, it looked like the injury would be much worse than a sprain. She was stretchered off the field and many expected scans to show a break, but she escaped that.

With Sydney Leroux struggling and Abby Wambach showing signs of age, the Americans' striker corps aren't as formidable as they once were. Christen Press has been good, but she has been the only in form striker getting chances, as Amy Rodriguez has found herself glued to the bench. Morgan can certainly help that, giving the team another option up top, where they need it right now.

The U.S. has two friendlies coming up -- February 8 against France and February 13 against England -- and the hope is that she could play in those, but if not, the striker should make her return in March at the Algarve Cup.