For the third time since last May, MSU men’s basketball redshirt freshman guard Russell Byrd will have surgery Friday on the left foot he broke his senior year of high school.
An MSU release sent out Tuesday said Byrd’s surgery will be performed by Dr. Robert Anderson, who is regarded as one of the “top foot and ankle specialists in the country,”
“We are confident this procedure will assist with the speed and efficiency of the healing process and ensure a full return for Russell this season,” head coach Tom Izzo said in the release. “After consulting with one of the top foot and ankle specialists in the country, one who has worked with several professional athletes with similar injuries, we were reassured that Russell has received first-class care from the MSU medical and athletic training staff, but unfortunately, Russell’s foot has been slow to heal. This aggressive approach will better position Russell for long-term health, while also allowing him to be on the court this fall.”
After Byrd was sidelined completely the first half of his first season as a Spartan, he finally was able to return to the practice court in January. However, the foot began to act up again recently, forcing him to miss the final two weeks of workouts before the summer. Friday’s surgery is expected keep Byrd out of action for the next four months.
Although it appears Byrd will be healthy for his redshirt freshman campaign, the men’s basketball team’s recent troubling history with foot injuries makes the addition of former Valparaiso guard Brandon Wood even more significant.
