October 23, 2012
OUT FOR THE SEASON
Knee injury sidelines Sam

Lloyd Sam will miss the rest of the Red Bulls' season because of a knee injury. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images

By Kristian R. Dyer
BigAppleSoccer.com Contributing Editor

UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- Red Bulls midfielder Lloyd Sam has been sidelined for the rest of the Major League Soccer season with a knee injury.

Red Bulls coach Hans Backe announced Sam's injury at the team's Tuesday training session at Montclair State.

Sam, a right-wing midfielder who gave the Red Bulls some much-needed speed, signed with the club on Aug. 16. After the Red Bulls dealt Jamaican international Dane Richards to the Vancouver Whitecaps for midfielder-forward Sebastien Le Toux on July 13, Sam was brought in to give the team some pace.

During his short tenure with the Red Bulls, Sam has one assist in 164 minutes over five matches and two starts.

"Lloyd Sam, out for the season unfortunately," Backe said. "Knee injury, I don’t know the exact diagnosis but he’s out, definitely."

The diagnosis is a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) and while Sam is out for the year including the playoffs, he may not require surgery. A team spokesman told BigAppleSoccer.com that the "club is currently exploring options including alternatives to surgery."