ASN Injury Report
19 Americans Make This Week’s ASN Infirm List
From Timothy Chandler to Aron Johannsson to Joe Corona to Eric Lichaj, ASN's Nick Kariuki has the latest medical updates from the American soccer infirmary ward.
BY
Nick Kariuki
Posted
February 12, 2014
10:35 AM
As you’ve no doubt read, Timothy Chandler was a major casualty in FC Nürnberg’s 2-0 loss to league leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday. The defender went down with an injury to his left knee after 10 minutes of play and was subbed off. A scan revealed the damage to be a lateral meniscus tear which will keep him out for eight to ten weeks. Since his return date around is mid-April, he may still be able to earn some valuable minutes before the end of the Bundesliga season.
John Brooks returned to team training last Wednesday and went the distance in every session leading up to Hertha Berlin’s Saturday match against Hamburg. Brooks did not make the squad that went on to win the match 3-0, and will have to wait till Sunday for his next chance to return to the squad.
At Hoffenheim, Fabian Johnson was left on the bench in his side’s 1-1 draw with Freiburg. Johnson was still eligible to play despite his broken metatarsal and could return for Saturday’s game against Stuttgart. Last week Johnson also revealed that he will leave Hoffenheim in the summer on a free transfer, with Kicker naming Borussia Mönchengladbach as his destination. The Daily Mirror has also named Stoke City and Crystal Palace as potential suitors.
Steve Cherundolo’s persistent knee issues kept him out of Hannover’s 2-0 loss to Schalke on Sunday. This weekend Hannover face a daunting test when it hosts league leaders Bayern Munich.
Josh Gatt did not feature in Molde’s friendly against Norwegian first division side Kristiansund BK. On Friday Gatt told Rant Sports that his major goal this year is to make the World Cup roster—pretty ambitious. There is no change to his projected return for Molde’s season opener on March 28.
A left groin tear on Wednesday prevented Jermaine Jones from making his debut for Besiktas. So far the former Schalke midfielder has missed Saturday’s 2-1 win against Gaziantepspor and yesterday’s 3-0 victory at Kasimpasa. Club officials told MLS Soccer that Jones is due back in training tomorrow and from there the club can set a return date.
Aron Johannsson was absent from AZ Alkmaar’s 2-1 loss away at Go Ahead Eagles because of his “non-serious” thigh strain picked up on February 4. Next up for the Cheese Farmers? Juan Agudelo’s FC Utrecht arrive in town this Saturday.
At Bolton, Stuart Holden’s physical work has stepped up for the next two weeks as his rehab begins its last leg. Manager Dougie Freedman remains vigilante not to rush Holden’s rehab and has helped to lift some pressure off of the player by putting an agreement in place to extend Holden’s contract after it expires at the end of the season.
The calf strain Oguchi Onyewu suffered against Barnsley will keep him out for two or three more weeks, the club said yesterday. Sheffield Wednesday’s press officer said, “He could be back in training as early as next week, but he won't be available for selection for a few weeks, at least a fortnight."
The Birmingham Mail reported that Jonathan Spector will play in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Wast Hills today. The versatile Birmingham City defender has been back in training since Thursday after a lengthy period out with a thigh strain.
At Nottingham Forest, Eric Lichaj’s unspecified injury turned out to be a groin issue, which Steve Davies told the Nottingham Post yesterday may be a hernia. The club also reported on Monday that he underwent a scan and has been ruled out for up to three weeks. Do not look for him in Kharviv next month.
With what appeared to be a foot injury, DaMarcus Beasley had to be subbed off after 74 minutes in Puebla’s 0-1 loss to Chivas Guadalajara.
Joe Corona came on as a substitute for Club Tijuana’s 2-1 win against Monterrey on Friday, his first game back since suffering an ankle injury.
Nantes midfielder Alejandro Bedoya missed his club’s last two matches because of a hamstring injury he picked up against Sochaux. Speaking with MLS Soccer on Monday, Bedoya said he's "back to jogging and recovery, and looking to be back for the game against Nice."
Real Salt Lake’s Robbie Findley said that he expects to be back around April after he had surgery on his torn right patella tendon in the postseason. Findley says he picked up the injury from the wear-and-tear of the 2013 MLS campaign.
On Sunday Dillon Powers was cleared by the Colorado Rapids medical staff for non-contact training as he tries to shake off his knee tendonitis and lingering concussion symptoms.
Since returning to the Rapids from the U.S. national team’s January camp, Shane O’Neill has had his training limited while he recovers from hamstring tightness.
Andrew Farrell was left out of the last game of the New England Revolution’s preseason tour in Bradenton, Fla., with a calf injury.
Todd Dunivant missed the Los Angeles Galaxy’s last two friendlies against Chivas USA and FC Shirak with a minor injury.
Nick Kariuki writes his ASN Injury Report every week. Follow him on Twitter.
