Bocanegra may not be back for Saint-Étienne until Nov. 6

Saint-Étienne defender Carlos Bocanegra is expected to miss two more weeks due to a neck injury he suffered in last weekend's loss at Nice, according to the club's medical staff. The US national team captain will miss at least three matches: Saturday's visit from Caen, a Tuesday Coupe de Ligue home tilt with Bordeaux and next weekend's trip to Brest.

"He was to be out for about 20 days, so hopefully we are down to 13 or 14 or 15 days," Saint-Étienne physician Thibaut Lombard told MLSsoccer.com. The club is targeting a Nov. 6 Lorient visit for Bocanegra's return to the selection. It is unclear at this time if the injury will affect his status for the USMNT friendly in South Africa on Nov. 17. The 31-year old has gone the distance in each of his eight games since joining Saint-Étienne from Rennes this summer. His new club currently stands second in the Ligue 1 table, two points shy of his old employers.
*Bocanegra out with neck injury