D.C.'s Gallardo, Peralta may need surgery

D.C. United midfielder Marcelo Gallardo and defender Gonzalo Peralta have flown to Munich to have a specialist determine if they will need surgery for sports hernias.

TheWashington Post first reported the story on its Web site on Wednesday, saying the pair would miss up to three weeks if surgery is required. A D.C. United spokesman tells Goal.com that Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck, who has performed sports hernia surgery on several United players in the past, will assess the players on Thursday and, if needed, surgery would be performed on Friday or Saturday.

The players are definitely ruled out of this weekend's SuperLiga match against Houston, and could possibly miss three league matches.

Gallardo, the Argentine playmaker brought in this year as United's first Designated Player, has missed the last four games. He has not played since going 90 minutes in a 4-1 win over Los Angeles on June 29. Without him, the side has lacked creativity in the midfield, winning two U.S. Open Cup matches then losing their two opening group play matches in Superliga.

Argentine defender Peralta, 27, also has not played since the L.A. game, when he went the full 90.

-- Goal.com