Gregg Berhalter loses starter at USMNT for National League and Gold Cup

New York Red Bulls confirmed this Tuesday, May 18, that its defender, Aaron Long, underwent a successful surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, which is why the center-back will be out for the rest of the season in the Major League Soccer and also, he will not be able to be with the United States team in the next Concacaf Nations League, Gold Cup, as well as the start of the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers, heading to Qatar 2022.

Through a statement, NYRB reported that its footballer underwent a successful operation on Monday afternoon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, after having suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, during the MLS game of week 5, against Philadelphia Union, last Saturday and it is estimated that the defender will be out of activity between 7 and 9 months, so he would not return until the 2022 MLS season.

“New York Red Bulls and United States Men's National Team defender Aaron Long underwent successful surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon on Monday afternoon with team doctors at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Long will miss the remainder of the 2021 MLS season. He suffered the injury during the Red Bulls' game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, May 15”, the statement read.

Long was one of Gerhard Struber's main cards in the Big Apple box and a regular in Gregg Berhalter's calls at USMNT, ahead of the national team's commitments next summer, in addition to the 28-year-old center-back, it appeared on the radar of some European football teams to emigrate next summer.

Aaron Long's statistic at the USMNT

Aaron Long has played 21 matches with the United States National Team, penetrating the rival's nets on three occasions, but above all, being a great guarantee in the central defense of the North Americans.