Photo by Mike DiNovo/USA Today Sports
By CAITLIN MURRAY
The Chicago Fire were already looking like a long shot to make the playoffs, but now they will have to finish the season without one of their top players.
Forward Mike Magee underwent a right hip procedure on Monday that will sideline him for six to eight months, the Chicago Fire announced Tuesday. The surgery addressed a lingering labrum injury and repaired articular surface damage.
“It’s unfortunate that Mike will be out for an extended period, but he’s been struggling this season with the injuries,” said Fire head coach Frank Yallop in a statement. “After consulting with our medical staff, we decided that this was the best time for Mike to have the procedure.”
Magee, 30, is tied with Quincy Amarikwa as the Fire’s top scorer this season with seven goals in 17 games. The two forwards are also tied in second for club assists this year with four each.
The Fire will find some relief in the form of French forward Florent Sinama Pongolle, who was signed Tuesday.
The decision for Magee to have surgery comes as the Fire sit in a lowly ninth place in the Eastern Conference six weeks out from the Major League Soccer playoffs.
Magee was acquired by the Fire in May 2013 from the Los Angeles Galaxy and made an immediate impact for the club, scoring 15 goals in 22 games, putting the Fire close to making the playoffs. But 2014 was a different story for Magee, who has missed games on and off all year, including the last three due to injury.
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What do you think of Magee being ruled out for the rest of the season? Is that the final nail in the Fire’s playoff chances’ coffin?
Share your thoughts below.
A shame. One of the greatest players to ever put on cleats.
Magee was completely worthless for us this season. Is there a Least Valuable Player award? It’s misleading to say his stats are equivalent to Amarikwa’s, as Quincy has done way way more for the Fire this season than Magee has.
Bummer for Magee. I’m still chuckling from his awesome Bocanegra tweet.
Pathetic fire organization. They are MLS 1.0 from left to right in a big market, how sad.
And yet Robbie Rogers is completely healthy. Sheesh. What a disgustingly one-sided trade.
MOAR QUINCY!!
Hey, Old Man River…. Zip it, or i’ll break your hip
Um, he’s sick. My best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who’s going with the girl who saw Magee pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it’s pretty serious.