AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu will return to the United States to undergo surgery for a torn knee tendon this week.

The 27-year old sustained the injury whilst on international duty with USA against Costa Rica last week and will now have the operation in California before undertaking rehabilitation.

Onyewu's injury is likely to keep him out of action for up to four months and it has drawn criticism from AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani who said after the following injury was confirmed: "I'm very angry because once again the national teams take our players and we have to pay the consequences of the injuries."