Many experts have Real Salt Lake drafting forwards in Thursday's SuperDraft (noon ET on MLSsoccer.com, ESPN3.com and YouTube).
But those mock drafts may have to change.
READ: Real Salt Lake SuperDraft preview
Real Salt Lake confirmed on Wednesday that veteran starting defender Nat Borchers underwent surgery in the first week of January to repair a torn tendon in his right quadriceps. The procedure will delay his preseason preparations and a timeline on his return has not been set, according to a club spokesman.
The club indicated that Borchers orginally suffered the injury in late 2011. The decision to have the defender go under the knife was made only after the right quad was unresponsive to further rehab following the recently concluded 2012 MLS season.
In Borchers' absence, the club can count on the likes of central defenders Chris Schuler, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, newly acquired Aaron Maund and left back Chris Wingert, who filled in at center back last year. The club traded 2010 MLS Defender of the Year Jámison Olave to the New York Red Bulls during the offseason.
RSL may look to bolster that defensive corps with their two selections (No. 12 and No. 31) in Thursday's SuperDraft.
