US defender Onyewu to have surgery

20 October 2009 02:30

Oguchi Onyewu, seen here before the US v Costa Rica World Cup Qualifing match in Washington, DC, on October 14. The US defender will have surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee on Wednesday, according to the US Soccer Federation.

CHICAGO (AFP) - US defender Oguchi Onyewu will have surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee on Wednesday, according to the US Soccer Federation.

Onyewu was injured in last Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica in Washington, which ended in a 2-2 draw. The United States had already qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa going into that match.

Onyewu, 27, left Belgian club Standard Liege after last season. He inked a three-year contract with AC Milan but appeared in just one of the club's 10 competitive matches this season before he was hurt.

AC Milan chief executive officer Adriano Galliani said last week the club will seek compensation from the US federation.

US team doctor Bert Mandelbaum is to perform the surgery in Los Angeles. The timeframe for Onyewu's recovery will be determined after the operation.