The Crew SC understood the risk it was taking by playing Federico Higuain in Los Angeles a week ago as the midfielder recovered from abdominal inflammation.

The lack of available players for the Sept. 3 match, however, "forced" Gregg Berhalter to take the calculated gamble, he said Monday.

The decision to use Higuain in the second half of a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy contributed to him not playing Saturday night in a 3-1 setback to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Crew (5-11-11) is hoping Higuain can resume training later in the week. He's missed two of the last three games from swelling in the area where he had his sports hernia surgery in June.

The Crew SC understood the risk it was taking by playing Federico Higuain in Los Angeles a week ago as the midfielder recovered from abdominal inflammation.

The lack of available players for the Sept. 3 match, however, �forced� Gregg Berhalter to take the calculated gamble, he said Monday.

The decision to use Higuain in the second half of a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy contributed to him not playing Saturday night in a 3-1 setback to the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Crew (5-11-11) is hoping its Designated Player can resume training later in the week. He�s missed two of the last three games from swelling in the area where he had his sports hernia surgery in June.

The 31-year-old Argentine was sidelined for six games as he recovered from the procedure performed in Milwaukee. Higuain returned to the lineup on July 23 against Orlando City FC, appearing in five straight matches, before the painful inflammation kept him out of the lineup Aug. 27 in a 2-0 win over San Jose.

Doctors advised Berhalter that Higuain probably could use another week�s rest, but with the club shorthanded in LA due to four international call-ups and an injury to Wil Trapp (concussion), the coach and sporting director played him off the bench against the Galaxy.

The Crew dressed just 17 players, one below the full complement.

�We were aware of the timeline, but due to roster constraints we were forced (to use him),� Berhalter said. �We knew we were forcing the issue. It was something where it takes a good two weeks for (the inflammation) to calm down.�

The Crew�s bench for the LA game consisted of a backup keeper Brad Stuver, defenders Chad Barson and Waylon Francis, midfielders Higuain and Christian Martinez and striker Adam Jahn. The match marked the return of injured center back Gaston Sauro who, as planned, played the opening 45 minutes before going to the bench.

Higuain entered at halftime of a scoreless contest. Francis and Jahn later came on as subs.

With an opportunity to creep within three points of the final playoff spot, Berhalter elected to play Higuain, but in the No. 8 role instead of his familar No. 10. The veteran was noticeably ineffective.

Berhalter said he believes the surgery was a success. What�s unusual is it took five games for the swelling to appear.

�It�s not common, but it certainly does happen,� Berhalter said. �We talked to the doctors and this something that happens in cases where they get inflammation.�

It�s unclear when Higuain will play again. He has four goals and three assists in 19 games this season.

�We�re evaluating him and he has a lot of pain, he�s playing with a lot of pain,� Berhalter said Saturday night. �We�re trying to figure out how we�re going to get him through the rest of the season, and how to get rid of some of the pain and plan a path forward because we need him on the field.�

Higuain was at Monday training, but did only light stretching during the portion of practice open to the media. Trapp ran laps around the fields and said afterward he�s symptom free and feeling much better. There�s still no timetable for his return.

treed@dispatch.com

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