MLS Injury Report: Zardes out for regular season
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Aug 30, 2016
Zardes, who was ruled out of the USA's September qualifiers, broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. He has been a fixture on the national team since entering January camp a year ago. The injury will also keep him out of the October friendlies against Cuba and New Zealand. He could return for the MLS playoffs and start of the Hexagonal for which the USA is favored to qualify.
It's the first major injury of Zardes' career. He played 27, 32 and 29 games in his first three MLS seasons. In 2016, Zardes made 19 appearances in MLS play, scoring six goals and adding five assists, including two game-winning goals and three game-winning assists.
Jelle Van Damme (out 2-3 weeks with a MLC sprain) and Steven Gerrard (out a couple of weeks with a hamstring injury) both left the Vancouver game with injuries. Along with Robbie Keane's call-up for his farewell Ireland game and Nigel de Jong in talks to move to Turkey's Galatasaray, the injuries leave the Galaxy undermanned for two matches in the next week -- Columbus Saturday at home and Real Salt Lake away four days later.
Bummer for GZ. Feet can be tricky so don't rush it. Many, many minutes in your future.