Onyewu facing six months out after knee operation

MIAMI (Reuters) - United States and AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu faces six months out of action after having surgery on his left knee, the U.S. Soccer Federation said on Thursday.

The operation, to repair a torn patellar tendon, was successful but the team's medical staff said the recovery time was two months longer than originally expected.

Coach Bob Bradley had said Onyewu would be out for up to four months after the defender suffered the injury in the United States' 2-2 draw against Costa Rica last week, their final qualifying game for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Although six months would still give Onyewu time to be fit for the finals, it could leave him short of match-practice heading into the tournament.