USWNT star Alex Morgan nearing return after giving birth to first child

After giving birth to her first child in May, United States Women's National Team star Alex Morgan might be returning to the pitch very soon. 

Orlando Pride coach Marc Skinner said Friday that Morgan is expected to return to full team training on Monday and may be available for the NWSL's fall season. 

"I think and I hope that we can get Alex into some of these games," Skinner said, according to ESPN's Graham Hays. "Depending on how it goes and how she reacts to training.

"She's been working really, really hard to get back. If she has no reaction to any kind of niggles during our training period over the next couple of weeks, then I'm really hopeful we can get her into some of these games. And knowing Alex, the reason she's training is because she wants to be back on the field."

Morgan has been going through individual training sessions with the Pride, which aligns with the league's coronavirus protocols. 

It's been more than a year since the 31-year-old played in a game for the Pride. In August of 2019, she suffered a concussion. The team also announced that she wouldn't return for the season at that time due to a patella stress reaction in her right knee relating to an earlier injury. 

The Pride will be eager to get Morgan back in their starting XI, though the club will be monitoring her situation and taking things one step at a time. 

Orlando's first game of the fall season is on Sept. 19 against the North Carolina Courage. Morgan's status for that game is unknown, though she has about two weeks to prepare. If she's unable to compete, Marta and Sydney Leroux will need to step up in her absence.