Whitecaps FC defender Christian Dean out 3-4 months with broken foot

Vancouver Whitecaps defender Christian Dean has undergone successful surgery to repair a broken metatarsal in his left foot.

The 22-year-old will be on the mend for three to four months after suffering the injury in training last week. The native ofEast Palo Alto was seen wearing a walking boot late last week.

The injury poses questions regarding the depth of Carl Robinson’s squad in the heart of the defence and it may open a window for this year’s first round draftee, Cole Seiler, to establish himself as the number four option in the position after Kendall Waston, Tim Parker, and Pa-Modou Kah.

[am2_see_also]

Coming back from this injury will be an extra test of mental fortitude for Christian Dean, who, after a strong pre-season, finally looked ready to be a real contender for meaningful minutes in the first team.

The towering defender was selected third overall by the Whitecaps in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. In his first two years as a professional, Dean has made nine MLS appearances in addition to minutes in the CONCACAF Champions League, the Canadian Championship and for WFC2 in the United Soccer League.

[am2_see_also]