John Brooks injured, possibly out until the end of the Bundesliga season

Hertha Berlin announced today that center back John Brooks sustained a hip injury during the team’s 1-0 win against VfL Wolfsburg over the weekend. In that match, Brooks played a full 90 minutes and then complained of pain after the game ended. The Bundesliga club stated that the injury was just a strain, however ESPNFC is reporting that the injury could be a tear, and that he would be doubtful for the weekend match away to SV Werder Bremen.

Hertha has four games remaining in the season and the Bundesliga.com report announcing the injury noted that Brooks could miss the rest of their matches. The club currently sits in fifth in the Bundesliga. While it would be difficult for them to climb much higher than that with nine points separating them from fourth place Hoffenheim, fifth would be the highest the team had placed in the league since finishing fourth from the top in 2008-2009.

The German club didn’t offer a timeline for Brooks’ recovery which throws into doubt his availability for the USMNT this summer. Since his standout performance in the Copa America Centenario, Brooks has been a first-choice center back for both former coach Jurgen Klinsmann and current manager Bruce Arena. With two crucial World Cup qualifiers in early June, it’ll be a race to get him back to full fitness in time.