NEW YORK – With Frank Lampard’s first full season in Major League Soccer bookended by left calf injuries, where will New York City FC go without the veteran midfielder?
It certainly will be difficult to replace the productivity of a player who has scored 12 goals in 14 games and helped the club reach the brink of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs -- their first postseason berth in just their second year in MLS..
“Of course it’s a disappointment, because Frank was doing really well for us,” NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said after training on Tuesday. “We will be without him for 3-4 weeks -- and it’s a big blow, of course, because since Frank has been back from injury, we scored a lot of goals and the team was playing much better.”
When Lampard went down with the calf strain in Saturday's 2-2 draw with FC Dallas at Yankee Stadium, Steven Mendoza came off the bench and played in Lampard's role as an advanced midfielder.
“I think we are in a good place right now," Vieira said, "and Mendoza came on for [Lampard] and did really well. There are different options for me.”
Another option for Friday night's home match against the Chicago Fire would be moving Tommy McNamara, who scored his fifth goal of the season in Saturday night's draw, to a more central role. Vieira also hinted that rookie Jack Harrison, who assisted on both of NYCFC's goals against FC Dallas, could fill the void left by Lampard.
“I didn’t make a decision yet, but I was really pleased with the way he played when he came on,” Vieira said of Mendoza. “We still have Jack who can play in that position or Tommy in that position and put Jack a little bit wider. I have different options and I’m going to wait until the last moment to make a decision.”
If Vieira does call on McNamara in that spot -- and perhaps start Khiry Shelton, who scored the late equalizer against FC Dallas --McNamara said he is primed to step in.
“I feel comfortable anywhere in any attacking position,” McNamara said. “If [Vieira] and the coaching staff decide it's best for me to play in that spot than I’m prepared and willing to do so and would be excited about it. But we have a couple of different options and its up to him and the coaching staff to do what’s they feel is best for the team.”
