Alan Pulido sidelined after undergoing knee surgery

Sporting Kansas City player Alan Pulido is out for three to five weeks after undergoing knee surgery on Friday morning, announced head coach Peter Vermes. 

Though Vermes categorized the procedure as 'a little bit of a clean up, arthroscopically' and 'not a major surgery', the striker is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. 

But Coach Vermes speculated that Pulido could possibly be back towards the end of the 2021 campaign, just in time for the MLS Cup. 

Sporting Kansas City has six regular-season games remaining, hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps next on October 17. The team is currently in second place on the Western Conference table with 52 points in 28 games, trailing behind the Seattle Sounders by only a single victory.  

Pulido has missed only seven games for Sporting Kansas City so far this season, playing in 21 and starting 15. He has recorded eight goals and three assists in all competitions, surpassing his 2020 numbers. 

This wouldn’t be the first time the Western Conference team is without Pulido as the Mexican international has battled several injuries since arriving from Liga MX side Chivas Guadalajara in 2020. This is his second major injury this season after suffering a right-foot laceration earlier in the summer against Los Angeles FC. 

Without the Designated Player, Sporting Kansas City’s attack will be led by forwards Daniel Salloi, Johnny Russell and Khiry Shelton, with extra support from Gadi Kinda in the midfield.