Khiry Shelton had an encouraging first workout with NYCFC. (Photo courtesy of MLS)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

PURCHASE, N.Y. —  Khiry Shelton returned to training with the full team Thursday morning, but it could be a while before we see him in game action for New York City FC.

City head coach Patrick Vieira was encouraged by Shelton, who worked out with the team for the first time since the midfielder-forward suffered a hamstring injury in April.

“He’s good. He’s been working really hard,” Vieira said after training at SUNY-Purchase Thursday. “It’s been [some] really frustrating moments for Khiry the last few months. It’s really good to see him on the field. He’s working well, working hard, but this is the first week that he’s really doing a few session with the team. So, it’s a little too early for him to get involved in any kind of games.”

Shelton, whose original diagnosis had him missing from four to six weeks, has played in only 62 minutes over four games this season. In 2016, the 6-3, 191-lb. attacker accrued four goals and nine assists in 13 starts over 22 games.

NYCFC hosts the Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby at Yankee Stadium at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.