U.S. striker Cooper out 3 weeks with knee injury

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By Mike Woitalla, Special to SI.com, Soccer America

The knee injury suffered on Monday by American striker Kenny Cooper while training with his German second-division club, 1860 Munich, is not as severe as first feared by coach Ewald Lienen, who thought it might be an ACL tear.

"It was a twist injury in the right knee," Lienen told Bild newspaper. "He was in real pain."

Kicker reported on Tuesday that Cooper's injury was diagnosed as medial collateral ligament (MCL) damage, and that the 25-year-old might be sidelined for only three weeks.

Cooper, who played 11 minutes in the U.S.' final World Cup qualifying game, a 2-2 tie against Costa Rica on Oct. 14, joined 1860 Munich last summer from FC Dallas.

He scored twice in his first two league games and notched a goal in the German Cup. Cooper then went scoreless in five straight starts and was used as a late sub in the last four league games, having lost his starting spot to 18-year-old Peniel Mlapa.