The Portland Timbers suddenly find themselves in need of a new center back following Monday’s injury to presumed starter Gbenga Arokoyo. After only a week of training, Arokoyo went down in practice with a ruptured left Achilles tendon, an injury that required surgery and will keep him out for the whole of the 2017 season.
Arokoyo’s loss leaves the Timbers with a center back corps of Liam Ridgewell, Rennico Clarke, Roy Miller, and potentially draft pick Michael Amick; a group with no obvious replacement as Ridgewell’s partner in the starting XI. Clarke has potential, but is unproven; Miller is a veteran, but was reportedly signed as a depth piece; and Amick is not yet even signed to the team.