Real Salt Lake's Joao Plata suffers fractured foot, expected to miss 3-4 months
This is the last thing you want to see while preparing for a new season.
Real Salt Lake will be without last year's leading goalscorer for, at best, the opening month of the new campaign.
Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal Sunday in training. Will undergo surgery today, out 3-to-4 months.
— Chris Kamrani (@chriskamrani) January 26, 2015
The club confirmed that Plata will undergo surgery immediately, with the team's physician to complete the necessary procedure this afternoon.
The diminutive 22-year-old forward, who stands only 5-foot-2, led the team with 13 goals last season, also chipping in with three assists.
Among players who logged more than 1500 minutes for the club last year, the Ecuadorian led the team in shots per 90 minutes (2.4) and was second in key passes per 90 minutes (2).