Car crash means U.S. forward Charlie Davies probably will miss 2010 World Cup

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The injuries suffered by U.S. national team forward Charlie Davies in an automobile accident today and the length of time it will take him to fully recover in all likelihood means that the 23-year-old will miss the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Davis suffered a lacerated bladder, fractures to the tibia and femur bones in his right leg, facial fractures and a left elbow fracture in the 3:15 a.m. single-car accident near Washington, D.C., that claimed the life of another passenger and also injured the unidentified driver. (see earlier post).

He was listed in ‘serious but stable condition’ at Washington Hospital Center this evening following almost five hours of surgery.

A statement released by U.S. Soccer said Davies ‘will be hospitalized for at least a week and additional surgeries will be required to stabilize his left elbow fracture and possibly the facial fractures.’

The statement quoted a federation doctor, Dan Kalbac, as saying, ‘injuries of this nature usually require a recovery period of six to 12 months and extensive rehabilitation.’

Next year’s World Cup in South Africa starts June 11, little more than eight months from now.

Kalbac said that due to Davies’ fitness level ‘his prognosis for recovery and his ability to resume high-level competition is substantially improved.’

-- Grahame L. Jones