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We knew it would happen sooner or later, John Thorrington was always going to miss some time this year due to injury. It just happened to be "sooner." Thorrington will miss the next 8-12 weeks with an injury very similar to the one that sidelined Dwayne De Rosario for the last 2+ months of last season, a severely sprained MCL, suffered during a sliding challenge with RSL forward Alvaro Saborio.
Thorrington was the direct replacement for De Rosario - who served a suspension for violent conduct for the first two games of the year - in the season-opener in Houston, a role he is not site for. He did not provide much going forward in that game but redeemed himself in a deeper role last weekend against Real Salt Lake. Thorrington shielded the back four supremely well and provided a much-needed starting point for D.C. United's possession game.
Luckily, DeRo returns to action this weekend against the Metros and Marcelo Saragosa, the man whom Thorrington replaced in the starting XI last weekend (and who subbed in for him after the injury) is available for that deeper role alongside Perry Kitchen. Once he's healthy and back on the field, though, Thorrington's contributions against RSL provide a glimpse of the quality he can bring into Ben Olsen's side. Here's hoping for a quick recovery.