Americans Abroad

Reyna expected to miss another 4-6 weeks.

Claudio Reyna's return to Manchester City after being sidelined two months with a bad quadriceps lasted 25 minutes. -- Manchester City web site photo --

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Sunday, November 21, 2004) -- His comeback from a lengthy quadriceps injury quickly aborted, United States midfielder Claudio Reyna was sent by Manchester City to see a specialist in Germany this week.

There was no immediate report of the findings of that examination, but City expects Reyna to be out up to two additional months after already missing two months with his left thigh problem.

"Claudio has gone to see a specialist in Germany and I would say it will be a minimum of six to eight weeks that he will be out for," City manager Kevin Keegan told the club's web site. "The specialist in Germany has a record of getting players back quicker and what he tends to do seems to help an injured player heal quicker."

Reyna initially was hurt in a 2-1 road victory over Crystal Palace September 18. After Reyna trained with his club for about two weeks, Keegan inserted Reyna as a substitute in the 65th minute of City's 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers November 13. The American aggravated his ailment soon after entering, but finished the game. "We had done everything right with him, but he told me that he felt it again after five minutes of going on," Keegan said. "He didn't want to come off, as players obviously don't like leaving the field of play after they have just gone on. We will have to see how long he will be out for, but it is a major blow again, and we will have to take it on the chin."

"It is a terrible shame as he had done everything right for his comeback. His warm-up on Saturday was right and he spent the whole of the halftime warming up in the indoor area Claudio is a good pro but sometimes, even if you do everything right, things don't work out."

U.S. men's coach Bruce Arena will keep a close eye on Reyna's recovery with the Americans starting the final round of World Cup qualifying in February. Reyna was not available for the last two U.S. matches in the qualifying semifinals because of his injured thigh.