When Juventus announced Wednesday that winger Tim Weah had a hamstring injury that would keep him off the field for the next two weeks, the American became the latest in the long line of walking wounded for the U.S. men’s national team.
Also out with short-term injuries are, among others, Milan star Christian Pulisic, who has a calf injury; Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris (knee); Norwich City striker Josh Sargent (groin); and forward Haji Wright (ankle). Longer-term injuries include right back Sergiño Dest (ACL, expected return in February) and striker Folarin Balogun (shoulder surgery, expected return in April).
In the big picture for U.S. fans, these issues shouldn’t be of great concern — at least not at this moment. Mauricio Pochettino’s team does not have a competitive game until the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama on March 20, three months from now. That allows plenty of time for Weah, Pulisic, Morris, Sargent, Wright and perhaps even Dest to get back on the field and into shape.
Trying to stay healthy for March was Pochettino’s lone ask after the November window. “I said, ‘Look, my only advice is look after yourself,’” he said in a post-game press conference in St Louis. “We need to be stronger in March. We need to play the semifinal. But the most important (thing) is to build. We are going to miss (them). We need to be desperate to arrive in March all together.”
While the current injuries shouldn’t impact the games in March, that so many players are sidelined right now is an important reminder for Pochettino, as well as the U.S. fan base, about the state of the team’s depth chart.
Injuries, of course, are a part of the sport. The U.S. was extremely lucky, as injuries go, ahead of the 2022 World Cup. While multiple players missed significant time during qualifying, including Gio Reyna, the squad was relatively healthy going into Qatar. Center backs Miles Robinson and Chris Richards were two players knocked out of contention for the tournament. Luckily for the U.S., they had more than capable options to step in.
Premier League veteran Tim Ream came back into the picture, and the former Fulham stalwart has become one of the team’s most important leaders since stepping into the starting lineup in the World Cup opener against Wales. Nashville center back Walker Zimmerman and Celtic center back Cameron Carter-Vickers both played well in Qatar, too.
Coincidentally, that center back pool is one of the areas Pochettino has to start to beef up in this 2026 cycle. If there is a task going into January camp, it is to identify players who can add some competition behind the regulars.
Already, some players have taken advantage of opportunities under Pochettino after several regulars missed games in the first two windows of the Argentine manager’s tenure.
Tanner Tessmann, who recently moved from Venezia in Serie A to Lyon in Ligue 1, won a starting job in the November window and played well in wins over Jamaica. Right back Joe Scally has continued to try to prove he deserves a shot to unseat Dest. Forward Ricardo Pepi scored in both legs of the Nations League quarterfinal against Jamaica and has been hot for PSV as he tries to climb the depth chart, with Balogun and Sargent both out. Center back Mark McKenzie also took advantage of his opportunities in the starting lineup this fall.
Pochettino undoubtedly will be looking for players like Club America’s Alejandro Zendejas, Monterrey’s Brandon Vazquez and some MLS-based players to earn their way into the March camp, especially if other starters are banged up. Injuries might also open the door for other new faces from European-based teams, and potentially impact where Pochettino and his staff focus their recruitment efforts with dual nationals.
Games of consequence may be three months away, but even short-term injuries reinforce the value of long-term planning.
(Top photo: Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images)
