SANDY, Utah (Friday, June 29, 2018) – Real Salt Lake has announced that DF David Horst, FW Ricky Lopez-Espin and FW Jordan Allen have undergone successful surgeries this week at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center and are on the road to recovery.
Horst, 32, underwent surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon and is expected to miss six-to-nine months. The veteran defender suffered the injury on Tuesday while on loan with Real Monarchs SLC in a 1-0 win over Fresno FC at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. Now in his second stint with Real Salt Lake, Horst has five appearances this season, three of which came in a starting role, to give him 148 matches in his MLS career.
“It went great,” said Dr. Andrew Cooper, who performed all three surgeries. “He’ll do well. He’s resilient and has shown to be diligent in his recoveries.”
Lopez-Espin, 22, had his right knee scoped to repair a torn meniscus. He is expected to return to training in four-to-six weeks. In his first professional season after being drafted in the second round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, Lopez-Espin made his MLS debut on April 27, coming off the bench to play 22 minutes in a 2-0 defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps FC. It is his only regular season appearance this season, though he has played in six matches, making three starts, while on loan with Real Monarchs SLC in the USL.
Allen, 23, had a scope done on his left knee to clean up cartilage after previously undergoing a series of knee surgeries last season. He is expected to return to the normal activities of his rehabilitation in four-to-six weeks. The Real Salt Lake Academy product is in his fifth MLS season, totaling 50 appearances with four goals and four assists. He started in the first two matches of the 2017 season before suffering a series of injuries. His last RSL appearance came on June 14 of 2017 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, playing 45 minutes against Sacramento Republic FC.
Real Salt Lake 7-7-2 faces Columbus Crew SC on Saturday night at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MT with live coverage on KMYU, the KSLTV app, KSL.com and ESPN 700.
