Gideon Baah was stretchered off during the first half of the New York Red Bulls's July 10 match against Portland Timbers. In training on July 11, RBNY head coach Jesse Marsch provided the diagnosis: Baah has a broken right tibia - a broken leg, essentially.

The Red Bulls have not wasted any time in facilitating the recovery of their 24-year-old center back. Baah was sent for surgery the same morning the news of his injury was announced.

The club estimates his recovery time at four to five months, which means Gideon Baah's first season for RBNY is over.

The Red Bulls have a successful recent record with managing severe injuries to their players. Damien Perrinelle just returned from a severe knee injury - subbing in for Baah in RBNY's last match - and, on the evidence of one first-team appearance, looks back to his best. Chris Duvall suffered a broken leg last summer, and has returned this season to be an important utility player on the back line.

The injury is bad news for the club, which has been struggling with the impact of injuries to key defenders all season. And it is worse news for Baah, whose first year in MLS has ended prematurely.