The injuries just keep on piling up for D.C. United.
Center back Donovan Pines is set to miss up to a month with a sprained medial collateral ligament, according to a report from Steven Goff of The Washington Post.
“It’s disappointing,” head coach Ben Olsen said. “I am disappointed for him. He was in a good rhythm and each game was getting a little bit better. It was nice to see him grow.”
The club later announced that Pines would miss 2-4 weeks.
Pines, signed this past offseason as a Homegrown Player after winning College Cup with the University of Maryland, was linked to several European clubs over the winter. He’s made four appearances for the Black-and-Red, assisting in a 3-2 win on April 13 over the Colorado Rapids.
As of early May, D.C. had outside backs Oneil Fisher (knee surgery), Chris Odoi-Atsem (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) and Joseph Mora (broken jaw) out through injury. Chris McCann, an option at left back, is questionable with a hamstring injury.
Pines went the full 90 minutes in D.C.’s 3-1 win at Columbus Crew SC last weekend. The club’s other options at center back include Steven Birnbaum, Frederic Brillant and Jalen Robinson.
D.C. is tied with the Philadelphia Union on 20 points atop the Eastern Conference standings heading into Week 11 of MLS action. The club from our nation's capital next plays on Sunday evening when hosting Sporting Kansas City (7 pm ET | FS1 in U.S., TSN in Canada).
