Update: Sebastian Lletget needs surgery. Out 4-6 Months with a left foot fracture. Read our complete story HERE.
If you were worried about national team callups and injuries, then your fears were realized when LA Galaxy midfielder, Sebastian Lletget was forced to come out of the U.S. Men’s National Team game against Honduras in just the 18th minute of the match.
Lletget was tackled from behind just minutes earlier in the game and was slow to get up. He would remain in the game for only about 3-minutes and eventually went down during a defensive stand forcing US Head Coach Bruce Arena to sub him out.
And it was unfortunate timing as well. Lletget had just scored his first ever national team goal in the 5th minute of the World Cup Qualifier – a game the United States ended up winning, 6-0.
Fox Sports’ gameday crew eventually characterized the injury as having to do with the Lletget’s left foot.
Lletget was released back to the Galaxy ahead of the USMNT’s next qualifier in Panama. He was officially diagnosed with a “left foot sprain,” as reported by the LA Times’ Kevin Baxter. Baxter went on to tweet that there was “no significant damage.”
#LAGalaxy report potential good news on Sebastian Lletget: He has a sprained foot. No significant damage. He's seeing a specialist Monday
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) March 26, 2017
Lletget was scheduled to see a specialist today (Monday) and the results of that visit should give Galaxy Head Coach, Curt Onalfo, information to guide Lletget’s future play.
The Galaxy will next face off against the Vancouver Whitecaps on the carpet at BC Place. That game will be played on Saturday, April 1st at 7 PM. The Game will be broadcast live on SpectrumSN and SpectrumDeportes.
The Galaxy are currently expecting to get Ashley Cole and Gyasi Zardes back from injury this week and both should be available for selection on Saturday. Marking a relatively good run of games without any significant injuries. Both Cole and Zardes would be welcome additions to a backline that has had to backfill due to injuries and suspensions, and an offense that has struggled to convert chances.
The team will also get suspended Center Back, Jelle Van Damme back on the field, as well, after he served his one-game absence during the 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
And while the “injury woes” haven’t completely gone away (Robbie Rogers return is still completely unknown), Lletget’s absence shouldn’t be a season changing injury – measuring it in days, rather than weeks.
But regardless of the prognosis, Lletget has been pegged as gigantic part of the Galaxy’s 2017 plans. Missing him, for even a short period of time, is never going to be something that’s easily absorbed by other players.