San Jose captain Jeff Agoos hoists the MLS trophy. - Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT

4 March 2002 (TEAMtalk) -- The MLS Cup champion San Jose Earthquakes are expecting a quick recovery from international defender Jeff Agoos.

Earthquakes’ head coach Frank Yallop told TEAMtalk that he isn’t worried about the health of his captain. What does worry him is that his star goalkeeper is in the last year of his contract with the team.

Yallop said that although Agoos was pulled from the U.S.-Honduras match on Saturday due to injury, he expects the Quakes’ defender to be ready to go for the Quakes’ upcoming Champions Cup matches against CD Olimpia of Honduras.

“He got a slight back injury with the U.S. He landed funny in practice and then he just twisted it again in the game on Saturday, but he should be fine for Sunday for them and then hopefully, if he comes through unscathed he’ll be okay for our game against Olimpia.”

One area that the Quakes have had no problems with, injury or otherwise, is in goal. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon was the second-highest rated keeper in the MLS last season with a GAA of 1.09, second only to Chicago’s Zach Thornton, and this offseason trained with French First Division team FC Metz. It’s no wonder then that Yallop would show some concern that the 2002 season is the last year of the young keeper’s contract.

“Joe Cannon’s bit over in France really helped his game. He looks sharp, looks assured, looks like he’s ready to play. Joe’s in the last year of his contract and we want to try and hang onto him, but I kind of realize that sometimes if they are very good players that they might want to try and move on. But let’s hope we can keep Joe, he’s a good goalkeeper.”