Seattle Sounders forward O'Brian White has suffered a setback in his recovery from surgery to remove a blood clot and was unavailable for action this afternoon in the Sounders 0-0 draw to Chivas USA. There are no details regarding the significance of the setback nor is there any updated timetable for the striker's return available at present. White returned to action in the Sounders' friendly loss to Manchester United and had previously been easing his way back into the lineup.
Whatever the case with White, it cannot be seen as good news for a Sounders side that has yet to upgrade at the forward spot with the transfer window drawing ever closer to snapping shut. Seattle has been on a solid run of form that had some questioning the need for the Sounders to sign an attacking player to fill their final designated player spot but recent scoring troubles coupled with White's renewed injury troubles make the Sounders situation significantly more dire.
That pales in comparison the White's predicament; after seemingly overcoming an affliction that might have proved fatal, White is once again faced with an uncertain future. If the setback is minor and a question of fitness, White's recovery will have reached just a minor bump in the road. If instead it is a recurrence of the blood clot that sidelined White in the first place, it's likely that the treatment that all parties seemed to think was working was instead just a temporary solution that will force the Sounders medical team back to square one. In any case, this is terrible news for the big striker who finally seemed to be finding his place in MLS this season. Here's to hoping this is just a blip on the road to recovery.