McBride Spends Night in Hospital

Brian McBride, the Columbus Crew striker who was supposed to start alongside Eric Wynalda in the U.S. forward line against Haiti Saturday night, missed the game after being hospitalized overnight Friday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Bruce Arena, the U.S. coach, declined to reveal the nature of McBride’s medical problem, but it was learned that the 30-year-old experienced an irregular heartbeat after training on Friday afternoon.

“Brian’s problem is a medical problem and I’m not a doctor [so] I don’t think it would be fair for me to go into detail,” Arena said. “We believe that he will be cleared to play by Monday and that he will be on the field [against Peru] on Wednesday.”

McBride has been one of the most consistent and reliable forwards on the American team since making his debut in 1993. He has played in 36 games for the U.S., including three in World Cup ‘98, and has scored nine goals.

Against Haiti, he and Wynalda were going to form a strike partnership for the first time, and Wynalda said the players were shocked by Friday’s development.

“It was something that scared the hell out of us,” he said. “He was complaining on the way home on the bus. They [team doctors] thought it was best that he be checked out, so he stayed overnight in the hospital. Any time you stay overnight, it’s serious enough.

“It was very disappointing [not to play alongside McBride]. I went to him before the game and said, ‘I’m not trying to make you feel worse, but I wish you were out there tonight.’

“He’ll be all right. We were all concerned about him [Friday], but I’m sure he’ll be better by Wednesday.”