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Michael Nanchoff

(Oregonian photo)

Portland Timbers midfielder Michael Nanchoff underwent sports hernia surgery Tuesday.

He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Nanchoff left a preseason game against the Chicago Fire on February 25 with a pulled hip flexor. He returned to the field for Portland's March 7 home opener against Real Salt Lake, but his hip was still bothering him during the game and the Timbers made the decision to send him to Los Angeles last week to be evaluated for a possible sports hernia.

The Timbers attacking depth will continue to be tested without Nanchoff.

While the Timbers have been using forwards Gaston Fernandez and Maximiliano Urruti as late game substitutes so far this season, they no longer have a clear third attacking option coming off the bench.

"Our depth isn't great in the attack," Timbers coach Caleb Porter said. "We got Gata and Maxi if we go with the lineup that we've been going with, so those two pieces are very good depth, but we don't really have that third attacking depth option right now."

Timbers forward Schillo Tshuma has been dealing with a sore groin and was unavailable against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Tshuma returned to Timbers practice Tuesday and could end up being used as a third attacking option off the bench while Nanchoff recovers from injury.

Porter said the Timbers are also still looking to possibly sign a new attacking player to give them more depth.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg