Instead of patrolling midfield or playing as a second striker to allow Khano Smith to shift back to the left wing at Crew Stadium, Ralston rested at home in suburban Boston watching on television, with an eye on the Revs and an eye on the United States' 1-0 win in Cuba.
"It was difficult to watch," Ralston said of the Revs' defeat. "It wasn't our best game to say the least."
Ralston hopes to return to the lineup to help change that in the Revolution's MLS Primetime Thursday clash with Chivas USA. Back spasms forced Ralston off the field in Trinidad two weeks ago and caused the veteran to miss the next three games while recovering.
"I feel good," Ralston said. "I've trained the last couple of days. Knock on wood, it's been OK. I've done two weeks of not a whole lot to get my legs back under me."
Barring a late setback, Ralston will return to the lineup to partner Taylor Twellman with the Revs still missing strikers Kenny Mansally and Kheli Dube.
"He's a big part of what we do," Revs manager Steve Nicol said. "He'll tell you himself that he's not a center forward. But he has the ability that we can play him up that high and he still looks comfortable. When you can control and pass the ball with the soccer brain he has, he can play anywhere on the field. He's shown that."
Mansally could make a cameo off the bench if absolutely necessary, Nicol said, but Dube won't rejoin full training for another week. Ralston's return could facilitate the return of the team's preferred 3-5-2 formation with Shalrie Joseph featuring in a more advanced midfield role.
Amaechi Igwe (suspension), Adam Cristman (season-ending toe injury) and Gabriel Badilla (Costa Rican national team duty) are unavailable.
Nicol will take all of the options he can find to spark his team after a languid performance in Columbus led to the team's second consecutive four-goal reverse.
"We're looking to see some passion to play the game," Nicol said. "We've had a couple of days off, which is great, but we need more than that to get back to where we were. It's about giving everything. That's one thing this team does. That's what we're looking for (Thursday). If we get that, we'll take our chances with the outcome."
The outcome has increased in importance with the Crew's surge over the past few months and the five-point deficit the Revs face to claim top spot in the Eastern Conference.
"We need to win," Ralston said. "We haven't won in a long time. Playing at home we need three points."
Obtaining three points might be easier against one of the few teams that has faced a similar schedule and has dealt with similar, and perhaps even more expansive, injury issues.
"They're on the tail end of a long road trip too," Revs 'keeper Matt Reis said. "Everyone goes through it. It's about how you deal with it and manage it."
Managing the game for the Revs means obtaining more possession and tightening up defensively. Reis faced 14 shots in Columbus. But for a friendly crossbar, the Crew's goal tally would have been higher. Scooping three points against Chivas USA will require an improved defensive effort, Nicol said.
"You have to start by defending properly," Nicol said. "Ask Los Angeles. They feel as if they have to score three or four goals to win a game. That's not a great place to be. We certainly don't want to end up having to do that either. First and foremost, it's important that we keep a clean sheet and defend properly from the front. We do it as a team. That's better for everybody."
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