McBride out 3-4 months after shoulder surgery

No stranger to injury, Fire forward Brian McBride will miss the next 3-4 months after undergoing shoulder surgery Friday.

This injury, however, did not come from one specific incident but from wear and tear on the right labrum.

McBride, 37, finally decided it was something that needed to be addressed immediately so that he might have a chance to heal in time for the playoffs, which begin in late October.

"It is something he has had since the beginning of the year," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "He has been a warrior and has been fighting through it."

Hamlett and technical director Frank Klopas have talked all season about the Fire's team depth, and McBride's injury will give another young player a chance to play.

Patrick Nyarko could move back into the Starting XI alongside Cuauhtemoc Blanco, or Calen Carr, who just returned after missing about a year with a knee injury, could get the call.

Hamlett also could move Chris Rolfe up top and have speedsters Carr or Nyarko play at right midfield. All three attack the opponent's net differently than the 6-foot McBride, a prototypical target forward who scores many of his goals with his head.

"It is always hard to be without players, whether that is for national-team duty, injury or surgeries like Brian," Hamlett said. "This is just another opportunity for some of our other players to step up and get a chance on the field.

"We have a good group of guys here, and Brian is an important part of that group, so we will miss having him."

If McBride needs four months to recover, he would miss the rest of the season, including the playoffs.

The Arlington Heights native has played 27 league matches since returning from England almost a year ago. McBride has played the full 90 minutes in all 16 league games this season, leading the team with 6 goals. His contract expires at the end of this season.

Scouting report

San Jose Earthquakes at Chicago Fire

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Toyota Park

TV: Channel 50

Scouting the San Jose Earthquakes: The addition of Bobby Convey hasn't helped the last-place Quakes (3-9-4, 13 points) much this season. They've been outscored 31-19. Ryan Johnson is the team leader with 6 goals.

Scouting the Fire: The Fire hasn't won a MLS game at Toyota Park since April. They'll try again, but this time without forward Brian McBride, who had shoulder surgery Friday. Because they have no other target forwards, McBride's absence should change the way the Fire attacks Joe Cannon's net. Defender Wilman Conde is listed as doubtful with a hamstring strain, and Logan Pause and Gonzalo Segares will miss the game because of national-team duty.

Next: At Seattle Sounders FC, July 25.