Brek Shea undergoes hernia sergery, out indefinitely

Brek Shea underwent an operation to repair a sports hernia, Orlando City announced on Thursday. The club did not say when they expected him to return to the field, but did say that he would play again this season.

Sports hernia operations typically keep players out for four to six weeks, but it can take upwards of two months before a player is cleared to return. Even if Shea is on the back end of that recovery time, he should be fit for the fall and Orlando City's stretch run.

Shea was originally injured while playing for the United States in June. He tried to play through the injury, but hasn't played since June 24 and finally decided to undergo surgery.

Many expected Shea to be on the Americans' Gold Cup roster, as he has long been one of Jurgen Klinsmann's favorite players, but the injury kept him out for that. The surgery will likely keep him out of the U.S.' early September friendlies as well, but he should be available come the October matches and will definitely be in the mix when World Cup qualifying begins in November.