[MLS] He avoided the injury bug for the most part last season, but 2009 is rapidly turning into a different story for Revs defender
Chris Albright.
Albright, 30, who has played just one game this season after setting a career mark with 26 starts last year, will be sidelined from six to eight weeks to recuperate from surgery on the lateral
meniscus in his left knee. Head team physician Dr.
Bertram Zarins performed the procedure Wednesday at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The 11-year veteran suffered the tear
during a training session before last week's game against D.C. United. Albright traveled with the team pending the results of a scan but sat out the match.
Albright's only appearance
this season came in the
April 4 home opener against FC Dallas, after he sat out the first
game due to a suspension he incurred last season. A right ankle injury prevented his participation in subsequent games prior to the knee injury.
Rookie
Kevin Alston has replaced
Albright at right back in several games and Coach
Steve Nicol also has the option of moving
Jay Heaps, who has played centrally this season after playing mostly on the outside as a
Rev, to the corner.
Albright joins a lengthy list of Revs who have missed time this season due to injuries:
Taylor Twellman,
Steve Ralston,
Matt Reis,
Gabriel
Badilla and
Mauricio Castro have all been sidelined.
The Revs (2-0-2) visit Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time Saturday to play Real Salt Lake.