Mike Magee was never going to replicate last year’s breakout season, but his hopes of coming close have been hampered by injuries throughout the 2014 season. Unable to overcome his latest ailment, Magee’s season is now over, with hip surgery performed yesterday in Colorado ruling the 2013 Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player out for six-to-eight months.
Chicago announced the news today, with Magee having undergone the procedure Monday in Vail, Colo.
“It’s unfortunate that Mike will be out for an extended period,” head coach Frank Yallop said, “but he’s been struggling this season with the injuries. After consulting with our medical staff, we decided that this was the best time for Mike to have the procedure.
Though he’s been limited to 17 games, Magee is still tied for the team lead with seven goals, bringing his total to 15 since he was acquired from the LA Galaxy last summer. Thanks to the injury, though, Magee had not featured since Aug. 16, with Quicky Amarikwa and Sanna Nyassi starting up top for Chicago this weekend in New England.
Yallop has Robert Earnshaw in reserve, and with today’s signing of former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle, the team won’t lack for options. Unfortunately, none of Chicago’s healthy players are likely to replace the production of Magee, who was the Fire’s best per-minute scorer despite his ailments.
Undoubtedly, this was not the followup Magee expected after a 21-goal season, but with Chicago sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference, now was the right time to get this done. If his recovery goes well, Magee could be back by the time players report in February.
Even at the long end of his recovery time, Magee will only miss a sliver of the 2015 campaign, when both he and Chicago will hope to put this season’s struggles behind them.