Attacking midfielder Mike Grella has been quietly battling injuries this preseason, missing both of RBNYs first two friendlies due to a knee issue. Well the knee was bugging him so much that he needed to get it scoped and now will be sidelined for about half a month at least.

The New York Red Bulls announced in a press release on Wednesday that Grella's procedure was successfully done in Manhattan and he could miss two to four weeks.

HARRISON, N.J. (February 1, 2017) - New York Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella underwent a successful scope of his left knee on Monday with Dr. Riley Williams III at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Grella is expected to return in two to four weeks. The Glen Cove, N.Y. native has 16 goals and 13 assists in 65 appearances over the last two seasons.

Grella appeared in all 34 MLS games last season, starting 29 and finishing his second campaign as a Red Bull with seven goals and five assists. He had surgery for a hernia on his right side - per a report from Kristian Dyer for Metro (no relation) - during the offseason, but had been billed as "fully ready" by an unnamed source. At the time the report was filed, it seemed peculiar that a source would request anonymity for the relatively innocuous observation that a player was healthy. Now it seems remarkably and presciently prudent.

If Grella's recovery takes longer than 3 weeks, he will almost assuredly miss the team's first competitive match of 2017 - the home leg of the CONCACAF Champions League against Vancouver Whitecaps on February 22. In that event, his starting role will likely be given to a healthy Daniel Royer, who started over Grella in several matches back in September.