Mauricio Pochettino may not have his No. 1 striking option for October’s pair of U.S. men’s national team friendlies, but he still has four other options hungry for the opportunity to shine.
Folarin Balogun’s dislocated shoulder has forced him out of USMNT duty this month, opening the door for others to fill the void. Josh Sargent, Haji Wright, Ricardo Pepi, and Brandon Vazquez could all feature at the No. 9 position in upcoming matches against Panama and Mexico, with all four aiming to boost their stocks.
Sargent and Wright have been busy in the English Football League Championship while Pepi has fought for chances in the Dutch Eredivisie and UEFA Champions League. Vazquez has remained a regular for Liga MX club Monterrey again this season, jumping in and out of the starting lineup.
Here is a closer look at all four USMNT striking options and where they stand following Balogun’s injury:
Josh Sargent – Norwich City
Josh Sargent is back in the USMNT picture and looking to stay healthy and make the most of his opportunity.
Sargent has been reduced to only 30 minutes since the 2022 FIFA World Cup, despite scoring frequently at club level for Norwich City (24 goals since World Cup concluded). The Missouri native has also missed international opportunities through injuries, but heads into camp in good shape following a strong start to the EFL Championship season (four goals, three assists).
Sargent can do it all on the offensive end of the field; linking up with his teammates, creating space for shooting chances, and getting on the end of corner kicks and set pieces. He will certainly get his opportunity this window, especially with Pochettino aiming to look at every player over the next two matches.
Ricardo Pepi – PSV
Ricardo Pepi has been in and out of Peter Bosz’s lineup during the early stages of the Dutch Eredivisie season, but remains a key attacking threat for the USMNT.
The…
Author : Larry Henry Jr
Publish date : 2024-10-08 23:15:58
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The post A closer look at the USMNT striker picture for October window first appeared on Foot & Soccer.
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Author : footsoccer
Publish date : 2024-10-08 23:51:53
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.