Joao Plata suffers fractured fifth metatarsal in first training session, out 3-4 months

Joao Plata, Real Salt Lake goalscorer and one of the vital players to last season's campaign, is set for a 3-to-4 month after suffering a fracture of his fifth metatarsal during Sunday's open training session, the club confirmed in a press release today.

The initial report was from Salt Lake Tribune reporter Chris Kamrani.

Plata suffered an injury of indeterminate magnitude at the training session, which took place at the Soccer City complex in Draper, Utah, on artificial turf.

Plata will undergo surgery today. He's one of several players in recent memory to suffer from the same issue: Alvaro Saborio, Chris Schuler, Devon Sandoval, and Chris Wingert have all fell to metatarsal fractures. Sandoval's set him back at the very end of the 2013 season; Saborio's caused him to miss the 2014 World Cup; and Wingert missed significant time to start the 2013 campaign.

At best, Plata will be available in April, leaving him with a month off to start the 2015 season.