U.S. men's national team forward Josh Sargent will miss Saturday's friendly against Colombia, and possibly the entire Copa América, with what coach Gregg Berhalter called a “lingering foot injury.”
Berhalter said Friday that Sargent has been training on the field and in the gym in an attempt to get fit enough to play.
“We've been unloading it, then giving it a little more, and then we've been testing it just to see where it's at,” Berhalter said at a news conference Friday. “And for us it's about how to prepare it and prepare it in a good way and then make a decision if it will be available.”
Berhalter added: “We will have to see if he makes the Brazil game and then we will have to make a decision if he makes the Copa América squad.”
Sargent scored 16 goals in 26 league games for Norwich City in England's second division championship last season after missing four months of action following ankle surgery last August. Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright are the other forwards on the American squad.
Each team has until June 12 to confirm their final squad for the tournament.
The right back position continues to be one of the biggest questions for the team. Regular starter Sergiño Dest is out after breaking his anterior cruciate ligament. That leaves Joe Scally and Shaq Moore as candidates to replace him, although if Berhalter opts for a five-man defensive line, Tim Weah could also feature in that part of the field.
“We'll try different styles. We're certainly going to give the natural right backs a chance in these games, and then maybe look at other options,” Berhalter said.
“So far in camp we've been able to see the performances of our right-backs, but also the other players, and we've really taken it game by game, opponent by opponent.”
After the match against Colombia, the United States will face the mighty Brazil in Orlando on June 12. Both friendlies will serve as preparation before the United States begins its Copa América campaign at home against Bolivia on June 23.
“I think we're looking for our performances to give us information about where we are,” Berhalter said. “We know that we will play against two of the best South American teams and we are going to learn a lot about our group and our opponents in these two games.
“But for us it's about how we go out on the field and have a good level of performance, how we go out on the field and compete and then we have the whole group ready and fit for the Copa América.”
