Chivas USA have announced that defender Bobby Burling, who is entering his third season with the team, has successfully undergone sports hernia surgery. The procedure was performed today by Dr. William C. Meyers at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, Penn. Burling, who played 20 matches in 2008 (18 starts), the most of any central defender on the team, is expected to be sidelined up to six weeks following the procedure.

Burling, a native of Monument, Col., and graduate of nearby Loyola Marymount University, joined Chivas USA on April 11, 2007, and played nine games (five starts) for the Reserve Team during his first season with the club, playing a total of 478 minutes and scoring 2 goals.

He made his Major League Soccer debut on May 11, 2008, in a 2-1 loss to New England, and finished his second season with the club having played a total of 1,659 minutes in 20 games (18 starts).