Onyewu Is Hurt Once Again, This Time At Sporting Lisbon

If I ever believed in Oguchi Onyewu or counted on him to be a cornerstone of the U.S. men's national team, I would have gone insane many years ago.

The talented but injury-prone defender is hurt again, this time at his latest club-Sporting Lisbon. According to Soccer By Ives, Gooch will miss two months after suffering a torn ligament and meniscus in his right knee.

Onyewu suffered the injury in Sporting's victory over Pacos de Ferreira over the weekend, needing to be substituted off after 27 minutes. He had been enjoying a resurgence at Sporting after a failed and injury-altered stint at AC Milan and a loan spell at FC Twente in recent years. In addition to rediscovering his defensive form, Onyewu had recaptured his athleticism and scored five goals this season, emerging as a top aerial threat off set pieces.

This is relevant to Jurgen Klinsmann and the U.S. since they play a friendly in Italy a week from tomorrow. The U.S.' central defense is already a mess so this setback only hinders them further. Not to mention the more important business of World Cup 2014 qualifiers which start in June. Who knows in Onyewu will be healthy, fit and ready to play by then?

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