Wolfsburg's Brooks to miss 3 months with thigh tear
Wolfsburg's U.S. international centre-back John Brooks is set for an extended stay on the treatment table after tearing tendons in his right thigh during Sunday's DFB-Pokal first-round clash with Eintracht Norderstedt.
The Lower Saxon side announced the news Wednesday, adding that the 24-year-old summer signing from Hertha Berlin "will be out for around three months."
It's a tough break for a player who is on the rise for both club and country. Based on Wolfsburg's prognosis, Brooks is certain to miss a quartet of World Cup 2018 qualifiers for the U.S., with Bruce Arena's lot set to face Costa Rica and Honduras in September before tilts with Panama and Trinidad and Tobago in October.
.@j_brooks25 will be out for around three months after tearing tendons in his right thigh in the cup on Sunday ☹️ Get well soon, Jay🇺🇸! pic.twitter.com/MwCMUtdQGK
— VfL Wolfsburg US (@VfLWolfsburg_US) August 16, 2017
Sunday marked Brooks' first competitive appearance for Wolfsburg after the switch from Hertha for a reported €20-million fee - the highest paid for an American player. He was set to become an integral part of incoming gaffer Andries Jonker's plans at the Volkswagen Arena.
Brooks' injury compounds an early-season issue for Jonker, who will also be without Dutch centre-back Jeffrey Bruma for Wolfsburg's Bundesliga opener against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.