Tue Jul 8 15:14:57 2008

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D.C. United's Olsen out 4-8 weeks after surgery

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Washington, D.C. (Sports Network) - D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen underwent surgery on his left ankle Monday and is expected to miss four to eight weeks, the club announced Tuesday.

Olsen had ankle surgeries during the offseason and just made his debut June 29 in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy. Monday's surgery required two screws in the medial malleolus to treat a stress reaction.

"We are confident that the procedure Ben underwent yesterday will relieve the pain that he has been experiencing during the past several months," D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper said. "This has been a difficult few months for Ben, but we know that he will fight through this and get back on the field for the final stretch of our season."

Olsen, 31, had one of the finest season's of his career in 2007, despite having to adjust to a position he hadnt regularly played in nearly eight years. The 10-year MLS veteran, who made 37 apperances for the U.S. from 1998-2007, scored a career-best seven goals to go along with seven assists.

D.C. United (7-7-1) is third in the Eastern Conference. D.C. is off from Major League Soccer action until July 22 when it hosts the Houston Dynamo.