“Forward Jozy Altidore has been diagnosed with a hamstring strain and is expected to be out of the line-up for 6-8 weeks”, the club statement said. He injured it in the club’s match against Vancouver on Saturday, a 4-3 loss, when he took a penalty kick.
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Midway through the first-half of the US’ opening 2-1 win over Ghana at the 2014 World Cup, Altidore – capped 93 times and with 34 goals for his country – hobbled out of the action and missed the rest of the competition. But they, along with Fabrice Picault, who has never played for the senior team, or an out-of-position Clint Dempsey are Klinsmann’s only options now, so he’ll have to mold a team that can work with that group of strikers. Everyone behind him, from Jordan Morris and Gyasi Zardes, to Bobby Wood and Chris Wondolowski, is not proven at the worldwide level.
MLS players will report to the national team ahead of exhibition games against Ecuador (May 25 at Frisco, Texas) and Bolivia (May 28 at Kansas City, Kansas). Altidore has caught heat before for his inconsistent play, but he was still the Americans’ best option up top.
The U.S. must submit its 23-man Copa America roster Friday and plans to announce it the following day. Additionally, several Liga MX and European based players were unavailable for selection due to club commitments.
U.S. kick off their Copa America campaign against Colombia on 3 June in Santa Clara, California.
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Defenders: John Brooks (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Geoff Cameron (Stoke, England), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest, England), Matt Miazga (Chelsea, England), Michael Orozco (Tijuana, Mexico), Tim Ream (Fulham, England), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland, England).
