NYCFC's Frank Lampard sidelined for three to four weeks with calf strain

New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard will miss the next three to four weeks with a calf strain suffered in Saturday's game against FC Dallas.

The former Chelsea star was sidelined for the first two and a half months of the season with an injury to the same muscle, though the MLS club said that this was not a recurrence of the same injury.

Since his return, Lampard has been key to NYCFC's push for the Supporters' Sheield, scoring 12 goals in 15 starts.

NYCFC has four games left in the regular season, thoughLampard should be able to return before the end of the schedule because of the international break early next month.

On Sunday, NYCFC moved to within a point of Eastern Conference-leading Toronto FC, but Lampard left the game in the 42nd minute after going to the turf and holding his calf.

"He's a sensible professional," NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said of Lampard after the game. "He came out because he didn't want to make it worse."