Colorado Rapids defender Axel Sjoberg is out of full training for “two to three weeks” with a knee injury.

The Swedish center back has been in excellent form in his rookie season after being selected in the first round, No 14, of the 2015 MLS Superdraft. His nine starts have been enough for him to be nominated for the Fan Ballot for the MLS All-Star Game on July 29. However, after this latest injury, the 24-year-old is unlikely to feature until a few weeks before that game.

“Axel has an issue with his meniscus,” said Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni. “It happened in the game at Salt Lake. We are looking at two to three weeks until he is competing fully again. He has made some good strides in his recovery but it takes time. Still, we are optimistic.

“With these injuries straight running is OK. It is about the side-to-side movement. He started straight running on Monday so, from a fitness perspective, it should not be too long once he has healed.

“However, center back is one position where we have options and all the combinations have done well so far this season. Shane O’Neill is coming back [from international duty] and Joe Greenspan is coming into the fray for the first time. They will provide more stability for us in that position.”