John Brooks has enjoyed a successful season for German Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, however, his recent injury woes have marred his consistent play on the field.
After missing time with a knee injury early this month, Brooks is set to miss this weekend’s meeting with Bayer Leverkusen after suffering from shin problems.
The U.S. Men’s National Team defender will miss his second consecutive Bundesliga match, following his absence from Hertha’s squad against Bayern Munich last Saturday.
“It is planned that John returns to training on Wednesday or Thursday,” head coach Pal Dardai said. “But for Leverkusen it won’t be enough. John is a tall player, who needs decent time on the training pitch.”
The 23-year old Brooks has made 18 starts this season in Bundesliga action, in addition to three substitute appearances.
Hertha Berlin currently sits fourth on the Bundesliga table, occupying the league’s final UEFA Champions League position. The side holds a one-point advantage over fifth place Borussia Monchengladbach with five matches remaining.
Is Brooks’ latest injury a concern ahead of Copa America? Can the centerback close the Bundesliga season on a strong note?
Share your thoughts below.
When he was on the field he looks one of the top CB in the Bundesliga and Hertha a UCL team. Without him Hertha is midtable..Gladbach and Leverkusen much better.
We have yet to really see him at his best with the national team. I hope that he really takes that position this summer..but worried about knees and shin injuries..
the timing of this is really unfortunate.
@Johhnyrazor, yeah i’m miffed about what the manager meant in that quote, it’s bizarre, but it does seem that he is saying Brooks’ height requires extra training to get him ready. If this injury lingers over the next few weeks it’s a concern for the USMNT because you would like all of your big guns in form and injury free going into Copa. You’d have to think he is at risk for not even making the roster if he can’t get on the field for the last 5 games to end the season, which by the way will be high pressure matches with a Champions League spot on the line and BMG only trailing by a point for the final berth. That being said, I think CB is the least of our concerns with the numbers we have there and although not world class, that position is more of a non issue than any other on the team.
I think its probably just a google translator error.
He’s probably not injured, just saving himself for when he’s not playing Chicharito.
“It is planned that John returns to training on Wednesday or Thursday,” head coach Pal Dardai said. “But for Leverkusen it won’t be enough. John is a tall player, who needs decent time on the training pitch.”
I think something got lost in translation here. Is he saying if he was short he could recover a lot faster, not sure there’s any medical evidence to support that short people having faster healing times.
I’m guessing he meant big, as in important or key.
Sucks for the kid and his team. I fully expect Gladbach to catch them.
it’s all for the best. hertha is not really CL quality.