Report: FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges sidelined with torn meniscus
FC Dallas centre-back Matt Hedges will be sidelined five-to-six weeks with a torn meniscus suffered during the club's 3-1 victory in Portland last Wednesday night, according to FOX Sports' Julie Stewart-Binks.
The angular 26-year-old, once-capped U.S. international was held off the team sheet for Sunday's victory at home to Sporting Kansas City, raising concerns that the long-serving Dallas vet had suffered an injury.
The North Carolina alumnus had appeared in Dallas' first seven league matches this season, playing all 630 minutes for the Western Conference first-placed side.
The 11th overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Hedges was named club captain in 2014, and has made 124 appearances for the Hoops. Hedges' absence could be a massive loss for Dallas, which plays its next three matches on the road, at the Vancouver Whitecaps, New York Red Bulls, and Toronto FC.
The injury has forced Oscar Pareja's hand, with a centre-back pairing of Zach Loyd and Walker Zimmerman employed for the 2-1 victory over Kansas City.