Weston McKennie, Josh Sargent are among the latest USMNT players dealing with injuries | Rare Techy

The cut is the U.S. men’s national team’s player pool as the clock ticks down to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the Americans now just three weeks away from kicking off in Qatar.

Weston McKennie and Josh Sargent are the latest pair of American players to be injured on club duty this weekend. McKennie played 45 minutes in Juventus’ 1-0 win over Lecce on Saturday before being taken off at half-time with a thigh strain.

Sky Sports Italy reported on Sunday that McKennie will miss Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League group stage final against Paris Saint-Germain and will be out for at least 15 days.

Sargent missed Norwich City’s 3-1 EFL Championship win over Stoke City on Saturday with a reported groin injury. The 22-year-old left the October 18 match against Luton Town with a foot injury, but returned and played 90 minutes in the matches at Sheffield United on October 22 and at Burnley on October 25.

“[He] Tuesday felt, played,” Dean Smith said postmatch. “But today was very tight…. He has a chance to be called up for the World Cup as well. We can’t risk it. And he didn’t feel like going today.”

McKennie has scored three goals and registered one assist in 16 appearances for Juventus this season. The 24-year-old overcame a pre-season injury and was a regular part of Massimiliano Allegri’s side in the first half of the league and European schedule.

His proposed return to action will come a week before the USMNT open their group stage schedule against Wales on November 21.

Sargent has been a major contributor to Dean Smith’s side this season, leading the Canaries with eight goals in 17 league appearances. He also added two assists for a fifth-place finish.

There is no timetable for Sargent’s return to Norwich City ahead of Wednesday’s league clash with QPR. Norwich City will also face Rotherham United and Middlesbrough before the World Cup break.

The recent news of injuries to McKennie and Sargent is not good news for Berhalter and his coaching staff following Luca De La Torre’s injury announcement earlier this week. De La Torre is expected to miss three weeks after picking up an ankle injury in training.

Berhalter’s final lineup will be unveiled on November 9 in Brooklyn, New York. The USMNT will face Wales on November 21 before taking on England on November 25 and Iran on November 29.