Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright to replace Sargent, de la Torre in US games due to injuries
Forward Josh Sargent and midfielder Luca de La Torre will miss the United States’ Nations League games because of injuries and were replaced on the roster Sunday by winger Brenden Aaronson and forward Haji Wright.
Sargent, who had been picked to return to the American team for the first time since the 2022 World Cup, injured his right ankle Saturday playing for Norwich at Stoke in England’s second-tier League Championship.
Sargent put the Canaries ahead in the 24th minute with his 13th goal in 18 league games, his 10th in 14 league matches since returning Dec. 29 from an ankle injury that sidelined him for four months. He was substituted in the 82nd minute.
“Josh, his ankle is sore. He got another knock and a little bit of a twist,” Norwich manager David Wagner said.
De La Torre didn’t dress for Celta Vigo’s La Liga match at Sevilla on Sunday, and the team said he had discomfort in his left thigh.
The U.S. plays a semifinal against Jamaica on Thursday at Arlington, Texas. The Americans face Mexico or Panama three days later in either the championship or third-place match.
Aaronson was on the 2022 World Cup roster but has struggled during a loan this season from relegated Leeds to Germany’s Union Berlin. He has made seven Bundesliga starts and 15 substitute appearances, scoring his second goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Werder Bremen.
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter explained Wednesday why he didn’t include Aaronson on the 23-man roster announced that day.
“We think there’s guys ahead of him right now,” Berhalter said. “The message for him was: I know this hurts. I know it’s it’s a setback, but use it to make you stronger and to keep going and to keep fighting your way through through the obstacles that you have to overcome right now.”
Wright, who scored in the 3-1 loss to the Netherlands at the World Cup, has 13 goals this season for Coventry City in the League Championship. His 100th-minute goal Saturday lifted Coventry over Wolverhampton 3-2 and into the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1987.
