Tim Howard's season is over.
The Colorado Rapids and US national team goalkeeper will undergo surgery to repair a fracture of the right adductor longus, located in the upper groin, the Rapids announced Monday evening. Howard, who suffered the injury during the USMNT's 2-1 loss to Mexico in MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus on Friday, will be sidelined for four months, putting him in line mid-March 2017 return.
Howard, 37, returned to MLS and joined the Rapids in July after playing in the Premier League for 13 seasons with Manchester United and Everton. Despite playing just half the season with Colorado, Howard was chosen the team's co-MVP and he was a finalist for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, having posted a 6-3-8 record with seven shutouts and a 1.12 goals-against average for the Rapids. He was also named to the MLS Team of the Week three times.
After serving as the USA'sNo. 2 following his return from a sabbatical after the 2014 World Cup, Howard had just recently regained the No. 1 job, ahead of Brad Guzan, and started in goal against Mexico. He suffered the injury while taking a goal kick in the first half and was subbed out in the 40th minute, with Guzan taking over.
Howard's surgery will be performed by USMNT doctor Michael B. Gerhardt in Los Angeles, on Thursday.
Zac MacMath, who started the first 16 games of the season prior to Howard's debut on July 4, likely will take over for the Rapids the rest of the way. Colorado visit Seattle in the first leg of the Western Conference Final of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs on Nov. 22 (10 pm ET; FS1 in the US, TSN1/3 in Canada).
MacMath, 25, has made 123 career appearances in MLS, first with the Philadelphia Union and then with Colorado starting in 2015. He posted a 0.76 goals against average in his games this year with Colorado.
