BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- For more than two months, Chicago Fire midfielder John Thorrington has been salivating at the chance to return to the lineup. The desire is evident in his dialogue, with every thought somehow incorporating a reference to wanting to be out on the pitch.

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Brian Kersey/MLS via Getty Images

John Thorrington is off the MLS injury report as he fully completes his recovery from a groin/hip issue.

Now that he has been off the MLS injury report as he fully completes his recovery from a groin/hip issue, Thorrington is anxious to contribute again as the Fire host the New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the second leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal series in Bridgeview (televised on Fox Soccer Channel).

"I've been feeling good -- just trying to push on, get my fitness level up and get ready to help the team," Thorrington said Wednesday. "The last few weeks I've been back in training and pushing to get back on the field."

The Fire have some ground to make up after falling, 2-1, to the Revs in Game 1 of the series at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Sunday. Heading into Saturday's match, the midfield play once again will be a focal point in determining who controls the game and then capitalizes on the offensive end.

"I think overall our midfield did a decent job the other day with those guys," Thorrington said. "I think in any game -- not just this one -- the team that wins that battle wins the game. We know that's definitely important. That's why I hope I can be out there and help us get the result we need."

The Fire's needs are cut and dry: earn a two-goal advantage Saturday or even things up in aggregate scoring and then win a shootout.

"There's no gray area about that. We need to come in here and score some goals, and we haven't given up many goals in recent games prior to Sunday," Thorrington said. "We know exactly what we have to do. We had some success in the first 20 minutes [Saturday], but we need more of that over the 90 minutes."

Segares out, but still training: Defender Gonzalo Segares is listed as out on the MLS injury report with an MCL strain. Segares hurt himself when he bumped into New England midfielder Sainey Nyassi during last Saturday's loss to the Revs. Prior to the injury, Segares said that he felt fine from a physical standpoint. Even though he is back on the injury report, Segares appears to be doing everything possible to trudge through another setback with the hopes of getting back. But time is short these days in the heart of playoff action. "We were cautious [Wednesday in training], but he should be back out, fully training [Thursday]," Fire head coach Denis Hamlett said.

Thornton earns goalkeeper accolade: Former Fire goalkeeper Zach Thornton of Chivas USA was named 2009 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, the league announced Wednesday. The one other time Thornton won the award was during the Fire's 1998 season. "To wait this long and to have gone through what I've been through, and to be able to win the award again, is outstanding," Thornton said on MLSnet.com.

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