[USA MEN] One player the USA could have used against Honduras on Wednesday was 33-year-old right back Steve Cherundolo, the only U.S. player from the 2-1 win over the Catrachos in their 2001 Hexagonal match in San Pedro Sula still active on the national team. But the Hannover 96 captain's knee injury that kept him out of Wednesday's game is serious enough that it required arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday.

Hannover 96 coach Mirko Slomka would not give a time frame for Cherundolo's return, but a club spokesperson told Yanks Abroad that the club hopes Cherundolo could be back in training in 2-3 weeks but he would miss the round-of-32 series against Russia's Anji Machatchkala in the Europa League.

it would seem unlikely that he'd be ready to go for the double fixtures against Costa Rica and Mexico -- the next two opponents in the Hexagonal -- in late March.

In Cherundolo's place, Timmy Chandler started against Honduras, but he was a huge disappointment in his World Cup qualifying debut that finally tied him to the USA. Cherundolo's composure on the ball and the ability to ignite attacks down the right wing have made him an unsung member of the national team through three coaches.

Cherundolo missed the 2-1 loss at Jamaica in September but returned for the next game in Columbus and was tremendous in the USA's 1-0 win.

Cherundolo has played at Hannover 96 since 1999, earning him the nickname "Mayor of Hanover."

His career has been remarkably free from injury except for the injury -- a bruised knee suffered in training during the first round -- that kept him from playing in the 2002 World Cup. (He had himself been an injury replacement for Chris Armas and Greg Vanney.)

Cherundolo has played 280 Bundesliga games, the most ever by an American product.

Honduras 1 USA 2 (2001)
From the pages of Soccer America: Game Story | Report Card
USA -- Friedel; Cherundolo, Llamosa, Agoos, Regis; Sanneh, Armas, Mathis (Berhalter, 88), Stewart; Wolff (Albright, 69), Razov (Jones, 71).