U.S. skipper Bocanegra out three weeks

Saint-Etienne defender Carlos Bocanegra will be out for three weeks with a neck injury.

Bocanegra, who captained the U.S. team at this year's World Cup, sprained his neck when falling awkwardly during Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Nice after a clash of heads with Nice forward Eric Mouloungui.

The club said on its website Tuesday that the 31-year-old Bocanegra will be sidelined for "about 20 days" and that rules him out of the next four games.

Bocanegra has been one of Saint-Etienne's best players since joining from Rennes this summer, and his form has helped the club into second place in the French league.

He could return for the league game away to Valenciennes on Nov. 13.