Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson and defender Eric Gehrig will miss the remainder of the 2015 season due to injuries, the club announced on Tuesday.
“It’s unfortunate to lose Sean and Eric at this point in the season, but these types of things happen in soccer,” interim head coach Brian Bliss said in a statement released by the club. “Both players have been battling through pain over the last few weeks and they’re tough guys, but it was important to us that we make sure they get a chance to heal up and be ready for the start of the 2016 season.”
Johnson, 26, has a labral tear of the left shoulder and will be shut down for the club’s final five regular season games. The sixth-year ‘keeper – who made 21 starts this year – will not require surgery and will train sporadically with the Fire through the end of the year. He'll likely be replaced in the lineup by veteran backup Jon Busch.
Gehrig was diagnosed with a stress fracture in the navicular bone on his foot and will undergo surgery in Chicago on Friday. The 27-year-old defender started and appeared in a career-high 25 games in his first season with the Fire.
The Fire, who dismissed Frank Yallop and replaced him with technical director Bliss on Sunday, are currently in last place in the Eastern Conference with just 27 points through 29 games. Chicago play at the sixth-place Montreal Impact – who are currently one point above the red line – on Wednesday night at Stade Saputo (8 pm ET, TSN, RDS, MLS LIVE).
