FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Revolution midfielder Marshall Leonard has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an tear to his Achilles tendon in his left leg Monday afternoon.
The midfielder went down during a scrimmage with Boston College. The injury was deemed a "non-contact" injury.
"There was nobody around him," Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said. "It was just one of those things."
The injury comes as a blow to the former University of Virginia star after he spent much of the offseason recovering from a hernia injury. Leonard appeared as a substitute in the Revolution's last match, a 1-0 defeat by the Kansas City Wizards on April 15.
Leonard's injury comes further depletes the side on the left side of midfield. Tony Lochhead is currently with the New Zealand national team in advance of a game against Chile, although he is expected to return in time for Sunday's match with Chicago. Khano Smith is still recovering from a left knee sprain that has kept him out through the Revolution's first three games.
"It gives us one less option," Nicol said. "Marshall came on and did well [against Kansas City]. He's come a long way back from his hernia injury."
Nicol said he spoke to Leonard on Tuesday morning after the surgery was completed.
"I've seen him better," Nicol said. "He didn't exactly have his party hat on."
Surgery was performed on Monday night by team physician Dr. Bertram Zarins at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Leonard is expected to miss six months.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
