Seattle Sounders will have to go through 2018 MLS season without their striker Jordan Morris. The team announced on Monday that Morris will be forced to sit out the entire upcoming season due to an ACL tear in his right knee.
Morris suffered the injury in last week’s game of CONCACAF Champions League, where the Sounders were defeated by El Salvador’s Santa Tecla. Although there is a chance that Morris could recover in time for playoffs, the Sounders don’t want to rush him back on the field.
“Part of what we have seen is that guys that come back in that six-month time frame have a much higher rate of re-injury,” – said team’s general manager Garth Lagerwey while talking with Seattle Times. “So, part of what we’re looking at here in ruling Jordan out for the season is not what’s best for the Sounders in 2018, but what’s best for Jordan Morris in terms of his career.“
Jordan Morris spent his entire professional career with the Seattle Sounders playing 57 games in total and scoring 13 goals. He is also a regular member of USMNT since 2014 and managed to score 5 goals in 25 games.
Coach of the Sounders, Brian Schmetzer, backed the 23-year-old striker and is confident that Morris will return even stronger.
“Obviously, it’s a blow to a young player,” – said Schmetzer. “Jordan has a ton of talent, a bright future ahead of him. It’s certainly a setback, but it’s not a setback he can’t overcome. I have all the confidence in Jordan that he is going to pull through this and be a significant part of the team.“
With Morris out for the season, Seattle Sounders will now have a spot open for a new designated player.
