Drogba won't play on turf this season as he deals with knee problem

Didier Drogba will skip four of the Montreal Impact's first five matches of the 2016 MLS season because he doesn't want to risk his troublesome knee on artificial turf.

Drogba, who turns 38 next week, is slated to play March 19 against FC Dallas on the grass at Toyota Stadium. The plan is to keep him healthy throughout the course of the campaign.

"We saw last year when we played (on turf) in New England, his knee really swelled up and he really had a tough time recovering afterwards for the playoffs," Impact director Adam Braz told reporters Thursday.

The Impact opens the season Sunday against the Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place, one of several MLS venues that use turf. Drogba will also be unable to play at Montreal's Olympic Stadium, where the team usually contests its first few home games as the weather changes.

Subsequent matches against the New York Red Bulls (March 12), Seattle Sounders (April 2), and Columbus Crew (April 9) are also off-limits.

A report from Quebec broadcaster RDS had indicated that Drogba could train in Florida with new NASL club Miami FC. The former Chelsea striker began his preseason training in Qatar, but he reiterated his commitment to Montreal on Thursday.

"I would love to train here, actually. I would love to train in Montreal," Drogba said, according to ESPNFC's Doug McIntyre. "For me it's better if I don't move from here and train on grass pitch; it would be perfect. What I want is a pitch with grass and be able to train, and not feel any problem with the knee."

Drogba follows Thierry Henry as the latest foreign signing to propose skipping games on turf. Henry made a concerted effort to avoid the surface during his time in MLS, especially on the road, as he dealt with a problem with his Achilles.