'Killer' is recovering at home after an operation on his right knee, and did not travel with the team to Swaziland for their preseason tour. He will miss the start of the season, but says he is hopeful of a speedy return to the pitch.
"I'm feeling much better now and I'm happy to say that I'm walking properly without feeling any pain," Mphela tells Downs' official website.
"The operation went well and I think it's healing quite well and I might come back sooner than expected."
When he does return to action, Mphela faces the daunting task of standing out in a dangerously bloated striking department.
Sundowns have signed Eleazar Rodgers, Edward Manqele and Emmanuel Baffour, bringing the number of strikers in the squad to a messy nine, including Nyasha Mushekwi, Anthony Laffor, Lucky Nguzana, Simba Sithole, Richard Henyekane and Katlego Mphela.
Johan Neeskens will have to do some restructuring as it is, however, as three new foreign signings – Alje Schut, Baffour and Mumasi Abubakar – bring the number of foreigners at the club to eight. The quota is five.
Elias Pelembe is likely to receive permanent residency soon, while Sithole and Solomon Okpako, who failed to impress last season, are on their way out.
Method Mwanjali and Mushekwi would take up the remaining two places, as Dennis Onyango, Anthony Laffor and Esrom Nyandoro have South African permanent residence.
Mphela is in a bullish mood, however, after a dry four years at Chloorkop, and is confident he can recapture his form and help Downs achieve the success their collective talent should guarantee.
"We were very unlucky [last season] and I also think we gave up too soon, but I really hope we have learnt from happened and carry the fight till the end of the season," he tells Sundowns' website.
"I want to score goals in the new season, I also want to help the team win something, which means I also have to defend whenever required to do so ...
"Every ambitious player wants to win and I'm no different, I have been with the club for four years and I have not won anything but I'm determined to change that."
Killer rightly points out that the strength of Sundowns' squad should make them unstoppable: "We have what it takes to challenge for all the trophies because we have the best coach and players in the country and I believe that this season will see us do just that."
Neeskens will have to whittle his squad down to a more manageable size soon, as the situation as it stands is unsettling for the players and frustrating for the fans. But he will have to do his cutting carefully, without killing team spirit or damaging star egos.
What do you think of the Sundowns striker situation? Let me know on Twitter @ProjectJennifer
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