D.C. United’s Steve Birnbaum out 4-6 weeks

The injuries just keep stacking up for D.C. United. After already losing Markus Halsti, Luis Silva, and Eddie Johnson to injuries, the club added another name to their walking wounded on Tuesday: center-back Steve Birnbaum. The club announced today that Birnbaum would be out 4-6 weeks with an ankle injury.

The injury occurred during just the fifth minute of Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy. Birnbaum was going up for a header on a corner kick and landed awkwardly when trying to plant his feet. He was unable to continue with the match and D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen was forced to bring in Kofi Opare as his replacement.

What is unknown at this point what is the extent of the sprain. The Washington Post’s Steve Goff reported that Birnbaum had undergone an MRI earlier today. His report does not include any additional information if surgery will be needed.

Birnbaum was selected number two in last year’s MLS SuperDraft out of California University. Although he started the season on the bench, he ended up becoming a very important piece in Olsen’s back four. Birnbaum would go on to start all twenty-one of the matches that he played in last season and formed a center-back partnership with Bobby Boswell.

In January, Birnbaum earned his first-ever call up to the United States Men’s National Team. He played in the USMNT’s 3-2 loss to Chile. Although he could recover in time for the Gold Cup, which begins in July, he may be held out due to the injury.

As for D.C. United, Birnbaum’s pain is Opare’s gain. The 24-year old has played professionally for three years and came to United last year in a trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Due to the relative health of United’s back four he was limited mostly to just appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Opare is the same height as Birnbaum so he should be able to fill that role in the defense as the player who can clear the ball with his head and go up for 50-50 challenges. But he is not as quick as Birnbaum, which means that more might be expected from outside backs Taylor Kemp and Sean Franklin on the attack.

Expect Chris Korb to be the first substitute no matter what the defensive position is on Friday night. Korb can play both outside back positions and has played center-back before as well. The team will also likely bring up either Jalen Robinson or Travis Worra as support.