Vincent Bezecourt out for 2-3 months with knee injury

Vincent Bezecourt looked set for an exciting start to his professional career. He had begun preseason with the New York Red Bulls' first team and impressed the coaches in training as well as in preseason scrimmages. Following the end of the first team's preseason camp, Bezecourt didn't make the cut, but earned himself another look with the club as one of the trialists for NYRBII, the Red Bulls' USL team. A week later Bezecourt was signed.

A French midfielder of short stature with exceptional ball control skills, Bezecourt quickly became a key part of the USL squad. Bezecourt was the first man off the bench for the team in their first game of the season, started the game against Louisville, and looked to be continuing to grow into his role on the team. Unfortunately, that growth will have to be put on the backburner for a few months.

The New York Red Bulls announced today that Bezecourt suffered an injury to his left knee on Saturday which will see him miss between two and three months. Bezecourt exited the game against Louisville in the 40th minute, having gone down under a tackle in the 35th minute holding his knee. Only six minutes prior, his shot led to a rebound that Junior Flemmings finished for the opening goal.

NYRBII head coach John Wolyniec was saddened by the injury but remains upbeat as to his recovery.

"It's disappointing, especially in Vincent's first start," said head coach John Wolyniec. "It's going to be a two to three month injury so it's always difficult when you grab an injury early in the season, but I think that he's shown that he can really help us and that he's a player that's going to be important to this club."

"He just needs to put his head down, do the work for the next couple months and wait for his time to come back. It's a long season - you know we'll have plenty of opportunities to see him play so now it's about doing the work to get back."

With Bezecourt's injury, New York Red Bulls II are down to only USL eight players on the roster. First teamers Alex Muyl and Derrick Etienne, along with academy player Brian Saramago are likely to see more playing time in Bezecourt's place.