Doctor calls Milan´s Onyewu operation a ´success´

US and AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu had surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined about six months, US Soccer has said.

The federation said Onyewu had the operation in Los Angeles, and doctor Bert Mandelbaum described it as a “complete success.”

Onyewu immediately began rehabilitation exercises, and will continue with the first portion of his recovery in the United States.

Onyewu was injured in last week’s World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica in Washington, which ended in a 2-2 draw. The United States had already qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa going into that match.

Onyewu, 27, left Belgian club Standard Liege after last season. He inked a three-year contract with AC Milan but appeared in just one of the club’s 10 competitive matches this season before he was hurt.

AC Milan chief executive officer Adriano Galliani said last week the club will seek compensation from the US federation.