Setback: United’s Nava re-injures his knee and will miss the rest of the 2024 season

April 30 – Cristian Nava’s comeback story gained another unwanted chapter on Tuesday.

New Mexico United’s talented 20-year-old forward/midfielder recently re-injured his left knee, which he has been rehabbing since undergoing ACL surgery at the start of the 2023 season. He will miss the rest of this season, the team announced. club on Tuesday.

It’s a painful setback for Nava, an Albuquerque native who starred at Albuquerque High School before joining United’s academy. He was recently cleared for full participation and was expected to make his debut in 2024 sooner rather than later.

Instead, it’s back to the drawing board. Nava re-injured his knee during training late last week and will need surgery to repair it. He is expected to miss around eight months, according to a United club statement.

“Cristian has shown incredible growth during this long recovery process and we are blessed to have him in our locker room,” United manager Eric Quill said in the statement. “All coaches, players and team members are committed to supporting Cristian and fighting for him throughout the season.”

Nava’s initial injury occurred during a scrimmage against the University of Washington at St. Pius High School last season. Nava played in two regular season games in 2023 before being injured.

He suffered setbacks in his recovery, but in April NMU announced that Nava had been medically cleared and was available for selection ahead of their US Open Cup second round match against Lubbock. Nava did not appear in that match, but his return to action was expected soon.

“Cristian is a fighter and a winner,” United sporting director Itamar Keinan said in Tuesday’s statement. “We are all truly devastated by this injury, but each of us will support Cristian in his recovery. We are extremely confident that he will return stronger than ever. We ask that you keep Cristian in your thoughts during this time.”

Nava’s injury will require the United board to make some decisions in the coming weeks and months. NMU is off to a 4-2-1 start this season but has a busy schedule starting next week when it hosts MLS Real Salt Lake for a US Open Cup match on May 8 and faces Oakland Roots SC on May 11 at Isotopes Park. It remains to be seen whether or not the club will sign a player.

Nava joined United’s first team on an academy contract and later signed a full professional contract. The club extended his contract in March 2023 until the end of the 2024 season.