Originally published Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Sounders FC's Freddie Ljungberg is getting closer to full strength

The midfielder's minutes have increased as the season progresses, but he still hasn't played a full game

Seattle Times staff reporter

OTTO GREULE JR / GETTY IMAGES

Sounders FC midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, front, battles Will Johnson of Real Salt Lake for the ball during a game last month at Qwest Field.

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One of these weeks — perhaps this one — Freddie Ljungberg will be able to play a full 90-minute game.

He's getting closer. Ljungberg, a center midfielder for Sounders FC and its designated player, went from 29 minutes three games ago to 78 on April 4 at Toronto and 81 last Saturday against the Kansas City Wizards, working his way back to complete-game shape after preseason hip surgery.

The former English Premier League star from Sweden has shown his value to Sounders FC in starts the past two games. As a forward replacing the absent Fredy Montero, he scored a goal and expertly directed Seattle's attack at Toronto. Saturday he made a few nice runs with the ball as Sounders FC, playing most of the match a man down after Kasey Keller received a red card, was the more aggressive and attacking team for much of the second half against Kansas City.

Ljungberg has yet to round into top physical shape, he said this week.

"It takes like four or five games at 90 minutes to be 100 percent fit," he said. "The touch is there and it feels good, so that's just a part of the process. I have to play games."

Another part of the process is observing how the game is played in Major League Soccer. Unlike other places where he has played in Europe, Ljungberg has noticed his team and others in MLS "rolling the ball," or playing it close to the ground with feet instead of a lot of passes and ball movement in the air.

"Hopefully that's something that can attract people, that we try to play soccer a bit different, which I think is more enjoyable to watch," Ljungberg said.

Ljungberg knows what he can do, now it's just a matter of getting in good enough shape to do it week in and week out. His addition to the starting lineup has moved Brad Evans out to the wing at midfielder for Seattle.

"Soccer is like riding a bike," Ljungberg said. "I've played it my whole life. It's just the sharpness of the running, and it will take four games for a full 90 minutes and I'll be there."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

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