Rodgers ruled out of Red Bulls playoff

Red Bulls striker Luke Rodgers will Wednesday’s wild-card MLS playoff match against FC Dallas with a left knee injury.

Rodgers was sreplaced in the 90th minute of last Thursday’s playoff-clinching victory over the Philadelphia Union but has not trained since with the team.

Coach Hans Backe said it is possible that swelling in Rodgers’ knee has been caused by an infection.

“We subbed him after 90 minutes and there was no problem at all,” Backe said, referring to the game against the Union.

“Then on Friday it swelled up. It’s strange, very strange.”

Despite playing in just 23 of the club’s 34 MLS games this season, Rodgers has been a catalyst for the Red Bulls, scoring nine goals and partnering successfully with striker Thierry Henry, the team’s only player to score more than Rodgers.

When Rodgers has been in the starting lineup, the Red Bulls have won nine matches.

In games where the striker has not started, the Red Bulls have won only once – a 1-0 opening night victory over the Seattle Sounders.