Gallardo Struggling With Injury

Clinging to the final MLS playoff spot with six games to go, DC United has received word that designated player Marcelo Gallardo will be out of action for at least two more weeks due to complications from sports hernia surgery. The former River Plate man has decided to return home to Argentina to begin rehabbing the injury, which was operated on back in mid-July."We had a lot of discussions and, at this time, that is what he felt was going to help him," said United head coach Tom Soehn. "We have exhausted all resources to try and get him back. That is the next step."

Though the initial diagnosis called for a 2-3 week period of recovery, Gallardo has largely been unavailable over the summer, logging less than 100 minutes in league play and making only a brief cameo in a U.S. Open Cup game since late June. At $1.9 million, he is United's highest-paid player in team history, but has been limited to 14 appearances for the club.

"He has been in some big clubs and no one ever diagnosed him with a sports hernia," continued Soehn. "Whether it was the grind of this season or he came with it, that's unclear but it doesn't change the fact that he is not available right now. That's the real issue."

D.C.'s record of 10-11-3 has them fifth in the Eastern Conference, sitting on 33 points. That doesn't give them much breathing room heading down the stretch, as the six MLS clubs currently outside of a playoff spot are all within seven points of United.

The schedule is also doing DCU no favors, as the club is set to begin play in Group A of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday against visiting Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica. United will also have to make trips to Costa Rica, Honduras and Mexico over the next six weeks as CD Marathon and Cruz Azul are in their group.