Drogba highly unlikely for Montreal trip to D.C.

Didier Drogba's Montreal Impact tenure appears to be nearing an anticlimactic end after a year-and-a-half in North America's top flight.

The Ivorian goal machine likely won't travel with the club for its first-round playoff tilt against D.C. United on Thursday, Impact manager Mauro Biello said.

"I don't think those chances will be good," Biello told mlssoccer.com's Sean Farrell on Wednesday. "He hasn't trained, he still feels a discomfort, so the chances are very minimal."

The former Chelsea star's been hampered by a back injury, prompting the gaffer to opt for Bologna on-loan forward Matteo Mancosu for the club's stretch run.

Biello said Drogba's lack of time on the training ground, not his frustration with coming off the bench, is the reason the pony-tailed purveyor of powerful strikes is slated to miss the trip to the capital.

"We'll talk about it, and then make that decision."

Related: Montreal coach confirms Drogba dropped from team for refusing bench role

Whether Drogba's absence is due to grievances with his role or related to his injury, the 38-year-old's MLS career appears to be in its final days. With 10 goals in 22 matches this campaign, Drogba was far from his best, though still an influential party alongside 17-goal Ignacio Piatti.

Those successes came to a grinding halt when Drogba failed to appear in any of the Impact's final three matches, with Mancosu starting in his stead. Drogba then removed himself from the roster for a pivotal 2-2 draw with rival Toronto FC at the Stade Saputo on Oct. 16.

The following day, Drogba, Biello, and Impact owner Joey Saputo met. The latter confirmed afterward that the striker was willing to accept whatever role the club needed him to take on.

It appears that Drogba's new role may be cheering on his mates from home.