Lewis Morgan is in a “good spot,” head coach Sandro Schwarz said Thursday, a day after the Red Bulls announced their star would miss at least six weeks after undergoing surgery on his left knee earlier in the week.
It’s the second time in the past three seasons Morgan has had to miss extended time due to an injury — he appeared in just five MLS matches in 2023 due to a hip issue — but the injury hasn’t seemed to diminish the forward’s spirits.
“From the mental side, [he’s] in a positive way, in a good spot,” Schwarz said during his weekly prematch press conference Thursday. “He’s also very professional now in his rehab with the medical department with all the guys. I’m pretty sure … in the next weeks, hopefully, he’s making big steps, and then he’ll be ready in six weeks for us.”
Six weeks may feel like an eternity for the Red Bulls, who have gotten battered and bruised through the first few weeks of the season with the loss of Morgan being just the latest injury blow.
Versatile defender Cam Harper remains sidelined by a knee injury he suffered in the home opener earlier this month, and Wiktor Bogacz has yet to make his Red Bulls debut due to a back injury.
Schwarz also revealed Thursday that Mohammed Sofo, who made his first MLS start in Morgan’s place March 1, was dealing with a groin injury and was expected to miss two weeks.
Morgan’s loss remains the most significant of the bunch since it places a larger bulk of the offensive workload on striker Emil Forsberg and offseason addition Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Morgan had led the team in goals (13) and was second in assists (7) behind the now-departed Dante Vanzeir.
Though Schwarz referred to this as a “big chance” for the team’s younger players to step up, he also acknowledged that the Red Bulls are “looking inside and also outside” the organization for options to help their dwindling roster.
The MLS transfer window is open until April 23, which means the front office has time to find more help on the open market.
“This is our responsibility for the club, and we are talking all together to find the best solution,” the Red Bulls coach said. “We are talking every time about solutions. About what we can do to improve our roster.”
The Red Bulls had one of their more active offseasons already.
