Mauro Rosales has emerged as an MVP Candidate (Chris Coulter photo)

According to Matt Gaschk, Sounders midfielder Mauro Rosales will be out 2-4 weeks after a late match tackle in Saturday’s 3-0 win over DC United.

After undergoing an MRI on Monday, the Sounders noted that the Argentinian sustained, “a small tear in the MCL in his right knee that will keep the MVP candidate on the shelf for 2-4 weeks”.

O'Brian White in action against the Houston Dynamo (Chris Coulter photo)

This just in from the Sounders- Forward O’Brian White has been moved to the Active Roster after recovering from issues due to a blood clot.

Full Release

Seattle Sounders FC forward O’Brian White has been removed from the club’s Disabled List, making him immediately eligible to participate in MLS games.

White, 25, was placed on the Disabled List on April 27 and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot. He has not appeared in any competitive matches since April 22.

White, who was acquired by Sounders FC in an offseason trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, has started all seven appearances in 2011 and scored two goals and two assists.

The Sounders FC hosts the L.A. Galaxy in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match at Starfire Sports Stadium on Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT and then plays the Colorado Rapids on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Sounders FC announced this morning that forward O’Brian White underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his left leg.

A vascular specialist performed the surgery at Virginia Mason Medical Center, where White will remain for several days. He will be out of action indefinitely.

White, 25, started the first seven matches this season and is the team’s co-leader with two goals. He also has two assists.

All images thanks to Chris Coulter and SoundersPhotos.com

The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee today suspended Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan for his tackle on Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Steve Zakuani in the 3^rd minute of the game on Friday, April 22. Mullan received a red card for the challenge, which resulted in the breaking of Zakuani’s right tibia and fibula.

The Disciplinary Committee determined that Mullan’s challenge was reckless, egregious, and showed utter disregard for the safety of his opponent.

On Wednesday, Mullan issued the following statement, “It is with regret that my tackle resulted in the injury of Steve and I am deeply sorry to Steve and all those impacted by his injury.”

This is the stiffest penalty MLS has handed out since 2007 when Ricardo Clark kicked Carlos Ruiz in a Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas match.

Sounders General Manager Adrian Hanauer issued the following statement,

In situations such as this, the game is robbed of its brilliance. Steve Zakuani is a young, talented and highly entertaining player. He will be missed, and we all wish him a full and speedy recovery. As a league, the Commissioner has stated his intention to be more protective of dynamic, attacking players. Hopefully this suspension is a step in the right direction. However, the harsh reality of this situation is that no length of suspension will bring back Steve to action any faster.

The MLS Players Association is not planning on appealing the decision.

What do you think? Too much? Not enough? In line with what you were expecting MLS to do?

All images thanks to Chris Coulter and SoundersPhotos.com

Tweet Steve @stevezakuani11 with the hash tag #forZakuani. (Also, Mauro Rosales would like to get #11 trending, so if you tweet, use that hash tag too.)

Physical Mail
Physical mail may be sent to: Sounders FC Community Relations, 12 Seahawks Way, Renton, WA 98056

Do it. You know this isn’t the way he had hoped to spend Easter, or what he’d planned for the rest of his year. I’m sure it would mean a lot to him to hear how much his presence on the team has meant to you. (And if you were considering making a donation to Steve’s charity, Kingdom Hope, this would be a good time.)

Also, through Twitter we’ve learned that the team tried to stop by to see him before leaving Colorado, but he wasn’t able to receive visitors yet and they had to fly back without him. But he has one of the trainers by his side, and the team is flying in his parents to be with him.

Hugs, Steve. You’ve recovered from a serious injury before, and we know you can do it again and come back even better

(And while you’re sending thoughts, hugs and prayers, you might send a few in the direction of Mike, founder of this site, as well as his wife and newborn baby, who arrived earlier than expected.)

Surgery Press Release

Seattle Sounders FC winger Steve Zakuani underwent successful surgery late Friday night to repair a fractured right tibia and fibula.

Zakuani will remain at Rose Medical Center in Denver for several days before returning to Seattle.

Zakuani was injured in the third minute of Friday night’s match against the Colorado Rapids. He was taken from the field on a stretcher. Colorado midfielder Brian Mullan was red-carded for the foul on Zakuani. Seattle went on to win, 1-0.

Zakuani was the Sounders FC co-leader with 10 goals in 2010. He entered Friday’s game as the team’s points leader with two goals and two assists.

All images thanks to Chris Coulter and SoundersPhotos.com

He is listed as “questionable” for Saturday’s game against the San Jose Earthquakes as he undergoes surgery today.

Joshua Mayers of the Seattle times also noted that Mike Fucito rolled his ankle in Thursday’s training.

Miguel Montaño is trying to earn a contract (Chris Coulter photo)

Following up on the heels of Monday’s MRIs for Pat Noonan and Mike Fucito we have some updates.

• Fucito has sustained a moderate adductor strain. Sigi Schmid noted that, “a lot depends on how his recovery goes. It’s somewhere probably between three and six weeks so it depends how he responds.”
• Noonan has an upper foot bruise, but was participation fully in Tuesday’s practice.
• Mike Seamon is getting better and after Wednesday, the Training Staff is “going to allow him to re-enter training”
• The Sounders up to this point have not picked up the option to buy Miguel Montaño‘s contract. Essentially, he is a trialist with the club at this moment.

A Frustrated Mike Fucito after injuring himself against the Whitecaps (Chris Coulter photo)

In Sunday’s pre-season match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, forward Mike Fucito pulled up lame in the 35th minute. Following the match, head coach Sigi Schmid noted that Fucito sustained a pulled his abductor.

He will undergo an MRI on Monday.

Also visiting the imaging specialist is Pat Noonan who will also be receiving an MRI. According to the Sounders, “he took a shot right at the top of the foot the day before the game.”

• Midfielder Brad Evans, defender Taylor Graham and forward Pat Noonan participated as neutral players in the morning session and did light fitness work in the performance center in the afternoon.
• Goalkeeper Terry Boss returned to training after missing three days due to illness.
• Forward Blaise Nkufo did light work on the side during the morning session and fitness work in the performance center in the afternoon.
• Midfielder Michael Seamon was held out of the morning session with a leg injury but returned to full training in the afternoon.

As we noted earlier on Twitter, Supplemental Draft pick Corey Attaway and invitee Kerry Baptiste are no longer training with the club.

The Rave Green will take on Real Salt Lake in a training match on Tuesday. The game kicks off at 11a from Casa Grande and Matt G. will be hosting a live blog on SoundersFC.com.

Many folks at today’s inaugural training session for the 2011 season were happy to see the return of Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Brad Evans who are seemingly near 100% recovery from their 2010 injuries.

Hurtado sustained a torn ACL on May 22nd against San Jose, was a 2009 All-Star and finalist for MLS Defender of the Year. Evans who came from Columbus during the Sounders’ Expansion Draft underwent knee surgery and did not play after June 10th.

As of right now, Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan are the only ones rehabbing injuries and limited in training according to Don Ruiz. Jaqua underwent a hip arthroscopy procedure in Vail, CO in November.

Sigi Schmid also noted that defender Taylor Graham, “has a little bit of an issue right now,” but it is unclear what that is.

Chris Coulter and SoundersPhotos.com