Whitecaps lose Salgado
Talented teen suffered broken foot while playing for U. S. under- 20 team on weekend
Rising star Omar Salgado may be out for as long as three months with a broken foot suffered in international play with the U. S. under- 20 team.
Omar Salgado’s tweet was succinct and to the point: “Damnnn ... Why now?”
The second- year Vancouver Whitecap, who had finally found his stride out on the left side of attack after a tough rookie season, broke a bone in his right foot on Sunday while playing with the U. S. under- 20 national team in Uruguay.
While Whitecaps’ brass didn’t want to comment on how long the 18- year- old might be out until he returns to Vancouver today and sees club doctors, some U. S. reports suggested he could be sidelined two to three months.
“It’s one of those things that happens in the game,” said Vancouver head coach Martin Rennie.
“It doesn’t sound like it’s anything too major. You don’t want anyone getting injured, but he’s young and he should bounce back pretty quickly.”
Rennie said the club has been told by the American coaches that Salgado, who was added to the squad over the weekend as a fill- in for injured Real Salt Lake player Luis Gill, felt some pain after crossing the ball in the second half of the U. S. team’s 4- 2 loss to Uruguay. He was subbed out in the 82nd minute.
“It happens quite a lot,” said Rennie of the fracture of a bone on the top of the foot.
“But it’s one of those injuries that heals very quickly.”
The lanky Salgado, a central striker by trade, has started five
MLS games for the Whitecaps this season as a left- side attacking winger, looking comfortable taking on defenders oneonone and firing in crosses.
He had one assist in those five games and set up two goals in the Canadian championship semifinal against Edmonton.
Rennie said all young players have to deal with setbacks of some kind or another and he believes Salgado will return strong.
The 5W- 3L- 4D ‘ Caps, who have been on a two- week break, face the 4- 4- 3 Houston Dynamo on Sunday at BC Place. The Dynamo are unbeaten in their last four games.
Rennie wouldn’t say who he’ll start at left wing, but Camilo, who is tied with Sebastien Le Toux for the club lead in goals with three and who also has two assists, has played well in that position this season.
“It’s our first game back at home since we played Seattle [ a 2- 2 draw May 19],” said Rennie.
“That was a really exciting game, with some great moments and hopefully we can have another one like that.”