Josh Sargent’s return to the field for the U.S. men’s national team has been delayed once again.
Sargent will miss the USMNT’s upcoming home friendly against Colombia on Saturday due to a foot injury, as confirmed by head coach Gregg Berhalter in a press conference on Friday. The American forward has been sidelined since the 1-0 victory over Iran in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“We have been working with Josh both in the gym and on the field, but unfortunately, he will not be available for the Colombia match,” Berhalter said. “We will assess his fitness for the Brazil match and then make a decision regarding his inclusion in the Copa America roster.
“He is dealing with a persistent foot injury that we have been managing, but we need to ensure he is fully prepared before considering him for selection,” Berhalter explained.
At 24 years old, Sargent is coming off a successful season with Norwich City, where he scored 16 goals in 30 appearances. Despite missing three months earlier in the season due to an ankle injury, Sargent played a key role in the team’s strong finish in the EFL Championship.
13 of Sargent’s goals came in the current year, helping Norwich City secure a top-six finish in the league. However, the team fell short in the promotion playoffs against Leeds United, resulting in the departure of manager David Wagner.
In Sargent’s absence, players like Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright will be vying for playing time in the upcoming match. Berhalter also mentioned the possibility of adding another attacker to the squad if necessary.
“We currently have 27 players in camp, so we may stick with the current squad of 26 if Sargent is unavailable,” Berhalter said. “Alternatively, we may consider bringing in a replacement from the preliminary roster if needed.”
The USMNT will face Colombia on Saturday and Brazil on Tuesday in Orlando, Florida. The team will then kick off their Copa America campaign on June 23 against Bolivia, followed by matches against Panama and Uruguay in Group C.
