CHICAGO - The Chicago Fire has announced that midfielder Scott Buete underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair the fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot. Fire Team Physician Dr. Preston Wolin performed the surgery at the Neurologic and Orthopedic Institute of Chicago. The University of Maryland product is expected to miss the next 12 weeks of action, making a return to the field around the time of the MLS Cup Playoffs a possibility. Buete suffered the injury during the second half of the Fire Reserves' 4-1 victory over their counterparts from D.C. United on Sunday afternoon at Lake Forest Academy.
Buete has made eight appearances, including four starts, for the Fire in his second MLS season, playing a total of 365 minutes for the first team in 2005. Buete has also been a steadying force on the Fire's Reserve Division team during its inaugural campaign, registering a pair of assists in 623 minutes of action across seven contests (all starts).
Bone Spur Continues to Sideline Leading Scorer Jaqua
The Fire has also announced that an MRI on the left foot of forward Nate Jaqua has revealed a bone spur on the ankle of the third-year striker. Jaqua has been out of action for the last six weeks, with his last appearance coming on June 29 against D.C. United at Soldier Field. The 23-year-old Jaqua, who was named the Honda MLS Player of the Month for June, will see a specialist in Baltimore, MD this week for further evaluation, with a timeline for his return to the Fire to come following the visit. Jaqua's seven goals are tops on the Fire this season and place him in an eighth-place tie in the chase for the 2005 Budweiser MLS Golden Boot.
Tendon Tear in Right Big Toe Forces Herron From Field
Another Fire forward, Costa Rican international Andy Herron, will also be sidelined for an indefinite period of time after an MRI revealed a slight tendon tear in his right big toe. During his second season with the "Men in Red," Herron has scored two goals and added an assist in 15 contests, including 10 starts, in League play, while also scoring a pair of goals in two contests in the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Fire will announce a timetable for the return of the 27-year-old forward upon further evaluation of the MRI results in the upcoming days.
