Josh Sargent has been omitted from the USA’s squad for their overnight friendly against New Zealand due to ‘left ankle irritation’, according to reports.
The Canaries striker was expected to get minutes for his country in Ohio (12am kick-off UK time) but has not been included in the matchday squad, with Coventry’s Haji Wright selected to lead the line.
Fox Sports’ Doug McIntyre and Washington Post reporter Steven Goff state that Sargent suffered irritation in his left ankle during training for the fixture. It is not the same foot that kept him sidelined for a substantial period last season.
The decision has been described as ‘precautionary’ but is worrying news for the Canaries, given Sargent’s talismanic status for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side.
Sargent will be assessed upon his return to Colney, with City set to travel to South Wales to face Swansea in the Championship this weekend. Kenny McLean, who suffered a knock of his own on duty for Scotland, returned to Norfolk on Tuesday afternoon for further evaluation by the club’s medical staff.
Ben Chrisene, who dropped out of the England Elite squad with injury, is another that Thorup is expected to provide an update on during Thursday’s pre-match press conference, but his injury isn’t thought to be serious.
Elsewhere, City newboy Kaide Gordon recorded an assist as England Elite squad beat Romania 2-0 at Stockport County’s Edgeley Park.
Gordon, who joined the Canaries from Liverpool on a season-long loan, started the game alongside new team mate Kellen Fisher in their second game of the international period after a 1-1 draw with Turkey last week.
Oxford loanee Dane Scarlett turned in the City winger’s corner before half time before Louis Marsh fired home in the second to double the Young Lions’ advantage.
Kaide Gordon recorded an assist for England Elite squad.
Onel Hernandez featured for Cuba in a 1-1 draw against Nicaragua in the Concacaf Nations League on Tuesday evening, with his side coming within seconds of recording a win that would have put the top of Group B.
Karel Aldair Espino’s penalty was nearly enough to secure victory for Hernandez’s side before Widman Talavera’s 96th-minute equaliser denied Cuba the win. The winger is now set for a long flight to return to City’s group ahead of Saturday’s trip to Swansea.
Marcelino Nunez missed Chile’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia due to suspension after picking up three yellow cards in five matches in the competition.
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