1860 Munich and USMNT striker Kenny Cooper has suffered a knee ligament injury and could be out for the year according to a German website. Cooper is set to undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the injury, one he suffered during training. If the initial diagnosis is confirmed, Cooper could be out for as much as six months.


Whether you rate Cooper as a viable striker option for the United States or not, it seemed odd that the former FC Dallas man was not called into camp for this round of European friendlies. The knee injury could be the reason Cooper's name was not called, though it's not clear from the German story when it occurred.


Nevertheless, Cooper is out of the American setup for the time being, and could be lost for the entire World Cup run up. It was conceivable, especially with the hole created by the loss of Charlie Davies, that Cooper could have played himself into the squad, or given Bob Bradley another attacking option.


Cooper's detractors might be somewhat relieved that Cooper is no longer available, as Bradley won't be tempted to take him to South Africa; remember, though, that depth is an issue for the US, and no matter Cooper's current abilities, up to six months off also puts his development on hold.


What do you make of Cooper's injury?

*UPDATE* Cooper's injury is now being reported as not serious by German media, with his return coming as early as three weeks from now.