Malachi Jones has second surgery on tibia fracture

Malachi Jones, a rising star for New York City FC, will not return to play soon. The 21-year-old forward recently had a second surgery to fix a right tibia fracture he suffered last June. The injury happened during a collision with Orlando City's goalkeeper. Jones had surgery on Monday at the Fortius Clinic in London. After surgery, he will start his rehabilitation at City Football Academy in Manchester, the training center for NYCFC’s parent group. He will return to New York later to complete his rehab. During a recent press conference, head coach Pascal Jansen said Jones will not be back on the field for a while. He urged patience from fans and players as they navigate this tough situation. NYCFC's sporting director, David Lee, expressed concern for Jones and stated that surgery was necessary for his recovery. Lee emphasized the club's support for Jones throughout his rehabilitation process. Jones was picked eighth overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft and made an impact with four assists and a goal in his first 14 games. He had been showing great promise before his injury. Despite these challenges, Jones remains positive, mentioning that "faith, family, and dedication" have helped him cope. Meanwhile, NYCFC is doing well, winning their last two matches, with a current record of 2-1-1.