Brian McBride could be out for three months after suffering a freak injury against Middlesbrough.
Fulham FC striker Brian McBride dislocated his left kneecap while scoring his side’s only goal of the day in a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The former U.S. National Team standout was standing by his lonesome when he both scored and injured himself as he finished on a cross by teammate Alexei Smertin in the 16th minute. McBride collapsed to the turf immediately after the ball went into the back of the net to give the Cottagers a 1-0 lead, and was tended to by the team’s medical staff for several minutes before being carried off the field on a stretcher.
“It was a freak injury to Brian, with minimal contact really,” said Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez after the game.
The Fulham captain, who has led the team in scoring the past two seasons, could miss up to three months of the season with the injury. It’s a devastating blow for a side that has relied on the powerful American not only to score goals but to win balls in the box and provide energy up top.
Since arriving from Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew in January of 2004, McBride has scored 25 goals for Fulham, and has played a part in the side’s recruitment of fellow Americans Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey.
Unfortunately for Fulham, McBride’s injury wasn’t the only one on the day, as Hameur Bouazze dislocated his shoulder in the 31st minute and joined the American in the ambulance to the hospital.
“A bad day all round at the office,” said Sanchez.
