American Exports: Aron Johannsson set for ankle surgery, could miss AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie opener

AMSTERDAM – Dutch side AZ Alkmaar have confirmed that strike ace Aron Jóhannsson will soon undergo ankle surgery, telling MLSsoccer.com that the US international is expected to be on the shelf until mid-to-late August.

As originally reported by American Soccer Now on Thursday, the club are not certain whether this setback is related to his lone World Cup appearance in Brazil or the ankle nag Jóhannsson suffered late in the recent Eredivisie season.

"He will have ankle surgery this month," AZ press officer Daan Schippers told MLSsoccer.com on Friday morning. "He will be out 6-8 weeks."

The general timetable given for his return means that Jóhannsson is almost certain to miss the team's August 9 Eredivisie season opener at Heracles. He seems more likely to be fit in time for either the derby visit from Ajax eight days later or their August 23 trip to Willem II.

Taking over the AZ top gun role from Jozy Altidore last summer, the 23-year-old Johannsson put up 26 goals and seven assists in 53 games across all competitions in his first full campaign with the club. That strike haul stands as the second-best ever achieved by an American playing in a European top division, trailing only Altidore's 31 from the prior season.