The United States’ World Cup preparations have suffered a major setback after striker Patrick Agyemang suffered a worrying injury on Monday afternoon.
Agyemang, 25, was playing for his domestic side, Derby County, when the injury occurred, resulting in the striker leaving the field in tears on a stretcher.
The Derby star landed awkwardly after jumping for the ball during their game against Stoke City – which they won 2-0 – before being treated by medical staff.
The injury has sparked major concern for the USMNT, with many fearing that he has suffered an Achilles tendon injury – which would end his World Cup dreams.
Derby County head coach John Eustace said: ‘He’s gone off for a scan. We’ll wait and see the results of that. Hopefully it’s not as bad as what it might be.’
Meanwhile, one local outlet wrote that Agyemang’s injury initially appeared to be an ‘innocuous incident’ before later revealing fears of an Achilles injury.
Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup preparations have taken a hit after a star suffered an injury
USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang suffered a concerning injury while playing for Derby County
The 25-year-old had been a leading contender to earn a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for this summer’s tournament after impressing in recent weeks.
The Derby County striker has found the back of the net on six occasions during his 14 appearances for the national side – including during their recent 5-2 loss to Belgium.
Agyemang would likely compete with the likes of Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright for the back-up striker role in Pochettino’s squad, with Folarin Balogun expected to start.
Just recently, the USMNT head coach claimed that as many as 40 hopefuls have a shot of making his 26-man USMNT roster for the World Cup.
‘It is going to be painful because that process… is going to be difficult to pick only 26 from 35, 40,’ he said. ‘Who will be there is going to be happy, who is not on the roster is going to be sad.’
He added: ‘[This] was the end of our cycle… for preparation for the World Cup.
‘I think this is the end because the next roster is going to be the roster that is going to be involved. I think it’s too many things that we need to assess and to see in the next few weeks.’
Pochettino has experimented since taking over in August 2024 and he made six changes for last week’s loss against Portugal in Atlanta, which came just four days after a 5-2 humiliation against Belgium.
The 25-year-old had been a leading contender to earn a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad
USMNT coach Pochettino faces the task of whittling down a huge pool of players to just 26
The former Tottenham and Chelsea coach now faces the daunting task of whittling down a huge pool of players to just 26 ahead of the USMNT’s World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12.
Pochettino also suggested on Tuesday, last week, that he had not addressed the upcoming selection dilemma with his players.
‘I think now they know that it’s going to be a competition,’ the coach said.
‘They know that we are going to see every single week, every single game, and we are going to assess one year and a half or more, and we are going to make the decision.’
