Maxime Chanot will be sidelined from six to eight weeks. (Photo courtesy of MLS)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

PURCHASE, N.Y. — With center back Maxime Chanot sidelined from six to eight weeks after undergoing sports hernia surgery Monday, New York City FC is searching for some cover at the position.

The MLS club had one trialist at training at SUNY-Purchase Wednesday, although the team was not going to reveal his name.

Still, City needs someone experienced to back up Alex Callens and Frederic Brillant as Chanot recovers, especially if the team wants to make a run for the MLS crown.

“We have a player who are going to stay with us at least 10 days and then we’re going to see if if works or not,” head coach Patrick Vieira said after practice. “Then maybe we will move on, try somebody else. But he will be with us for the next 10 days.”

The teaming of Chanot and Callens this season was the best center back tandem the team has had in its three-year history.

“Of course, losing Maxime between six to eight weeks is not best for the team,” Vieira said. “We need a really good back up for that position because we really don’t have so much depth in that position. So in the next few days, few weeks, we have players coming around to see how they’re doing and we’ll make a decision. We have to make the right decision for the football club.”

NYCFC will meet the Red Bulls in the final Hudson River Derby match of the season at Red Bull Arena at 7 p.m. Friday.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.