Sporting KC’s Zusi out after foot surgery

Sporting Kansas City will be without defender Graham Zusi for the rest of the season after he underwent successful surgery to repair a midfoot sprain in his left foot. He is expected to be out of action for four to five months.

The surgery took place at the Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute and was performed under the care of Dr. Kirk McCullough, a leading orthopedic surgeon in the region. Dr. McCullough is on the medica team for Sporting Kansas City, Sporting KC II, the Kansas City Chiefs and is part of the U.S. Soccer Network of Physicians.

The veteran defender had started most of Sporting KC’s matches this year prior to his injury early in the match versus Chicago Fire FC. Homegrown defender Jaylin Lindsey has started in his place since the injury and will likely see most of the minutes at right back for the rest of the season.

Zusi was drafted in 2009 along with Matt Besler and the pair have been almost inseparable since. Rookie roommates, hundreds of starts together for SKC and even appearances for the U.S. National Team in a World Cup. Zusi started as a midfielder, moved out to the wings and eventually moved to right back, extending his career a few more years.

Thad Bell