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Ivory CoastUSMNT Facing Forward Shortage After Ricardo Pepi Injury
Ricardo Pepi’s early injury for PSV Eindhoven could leave United States manager Mauricio Pochettino short of forward options for upcoming matches.
Early Exit for Pepi
PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi suffered an injury on Sunday that forced him out of his club's Dutch Eredivisie match against FC Twente. The forward lasted just eight minutes on the pitch before his afternoon came to an abrupt end.
Pepi raised his hand to the bench to signal for help and sank to the turf. He was substituted immediately. The injury comes at a difficult time for both the player and his national team.
Huge Matches Ahead
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino had called Pepi into a 28-player squad for the upcoming FIFA international window. Players were scheduled to report for international duty on Sunday, the very day Pepi was injured.
The national team has a busy schedule with four matches lined up. They are set to play Peru on September 26 in Orlando, Florida. Then they face Chile on September 29 in St. Louis. Following those games, the team will play Mexico on October 3 in Glendale, Arizona, and Canada on October 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Attackers Missing
Pepi's injury adds to a growing list of concerns for Pochettino. The U.S. squad was already missing some of its most prominent attacking talent before this weekend.
Christian Pulisic was left off the roster. He has only just returned to fitness for AC Milan. Folarin Balogun is also missing from the squad. Balogun only made his first appearance of the season for Monaco on Friday following a failed transfer.
Youth to the Rescue
With several key forwards unavailable, Pochettino has selected some very young players to lead the line. This includes 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan, who has made a strong impression in MLS for the Philadelphia Union.
Pochettino's other forward selections for the upcoming matches are Cole Campbell, Justin Ellis and Julian Hall. Pepi's injury could force these young prospects into bigger roles than initially planned.
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