Josh Yaro out 3-4 months after shoulder surgery

Philadelphia Union defender Josh Yaro will not be available for the start of the 2017 MLS regular season as the club announced Thursday the center-back will miss three-to-four months of action after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Yaro, drafted No. 2 overall in last year's SuperDraft, quickly established himself in Jim Curtin's back four, making 15 starts in 17 appearances. A pair of red cards blemished his rookie season, however, and a labral tear suffered in preseason has now ruled him of contention in the early goings of 2017.

"Josh came into preseason very fit and sharp. This setback is tough, but the right thing to do was to be proactive and surgery to repair the shoulder is what’s best for Josh long term," Curtin said in a club-issued statement.

"We know he will come back stronger than ever. We have a very deep roster that we believe in, and we know the next man will step up in Josh's absence."

That next man could be one of Oguchi Onyewu, Ken Tribbett, Richie Marquez, or Auston Trusty, depending on who Curtin calls upon to start side by side this season.