Mike Grella hopes to be back to be play in the MLS playoffs. (Photo courtesy of MLS)

COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC midfielder Mike Grella has gone under the knife again.

The Major League Soccer club announced Wednesday that Grella underwent successful meniscectomy on his left knee Tuesday. He is expected to be sidelined for approximately four weeks.

The procedure was performed here by Dr. Pete Edwards.

The Glen Cove, N.Y. native is in his first season with Crew SC after joining the club on Dec. 15, 2017. Since then, Grella has made 12 regular-season appearances (five starts), scoring one goal – a game-winning strike against the San Jose Earthquakes April 28 – and providing one assist.

Grella played for the Red Bulls from 2015-2017, making 73 regular-season appearances (61 starts) while recording 16 goals and 13 assists.

He will be inducted into the Long Island Soccer Football League Hall of Fame Friday, Nov. 16.

Crew SC seeks a berth into the MLS Cup Playoffs when the club hosts Minnesota United FC at MAPFRE Stadium on Decision Day Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET / CW Columbus, Spectrum Sports, BCSN2, CD102.5 FM, English radio stream and Spanish audio broadcast available on ColumbusCrewSC.com).

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.