LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Sporting Lisbon and U.S. national team defender Oguchi Onyewu needs knee surgery and will be sidelined for eight weeks.
The Portuguese club says medical scans performed Tuesday revealed ligament damage in Onyewu’s right knee, an injury sustained in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Pacos Ferreira.
He injured his left knee on Oct. 14, 2009, tearing his patellar tendon during a World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica. He returned to action the following May 25, in time for the 2010 World Cup.
Onyewu has five goals this season for Sporting, including four in the league. The club is fourth in the Portuguese league standings, 13 points behind first-place Benfica.
