The USMNT star's hamstring injury during a friendly against Australia on Tuesday will sideline him at least three AC Milan matches.
Christian Pulisic’s hamstring injury in the U.S. friendly against Australia on Tuesday will sideline him at least three AC Milan matches — a setback threatening to impact his national team availability next month.
The timetable was expected but no less discouraging to both his Italian employer and his national team. Off to a sizzling start in Italy, Pulisic is certain to miss Serie A matches against Fiorentina, Pisa and Atalanta before being reevaluated at the end of the month, according to Italian media reports.
The best-case scenario would be a return Nov. 2 against Roma, but that seems overly optimistic.
AC Milan did not immediately respond to comment.
Pulisic’s recovery will be closely monitored by Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. team, which is scheduled to regroup Nov. 10 in greater Philadelphia for a nine-day training camp and two friendlies — the second-to-last gathering before World Cup camp in May.
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Even if Pulisic is back in action with Milan, though, Pochettino and Milan might agree it’s in Pulisic’s best interests to remain in Italy and avoid a setback during inconsequential international matches. Such was the situation for another U.S. standout this month: Right back Sergiño Dest, who has gradually returned from a serious knee injury, was left off the roster and continued playing Dutch Eredivisie matches for PSV Eindhoven.
It’s not as though Pochettino needs to see Pulisic in person for talent evaluation purposes. The 27-year-old forward is, after all, the most accomplished player in American soccer. But with just four friendlies remaining before the World Cup squad is selected — Paraguay in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Uruguay in Tampa next month and probably Portugal and Belgium, both in Atlanta, in March — Pochettino ideally would like to see his top talent continuing building chemistry at every opportunity.
Pulisic’s setback interrupted a productive and influential start to his AC Milan campaign: four goals and two assists in six league matches and two goals in two Coppa Italia games. No other Milan player has scored more than once in league play. Entering the weekend, Milan sits third in Serie A with a 4-1-1 record and 13 points — two behind Napoli and Roma. Milan’s next cup match is not until Dec. 4 at Lazio.
Pulisic’s problems began at U.S. training camp last week in Austin, Texas, when he injured an ankle two days before the 1-1 draw with Ecuador. He began on the bench and entered in the 73rd minute. Cleared to start against Australia, he lasted less than 30 minutes after absorbing two hard challenges.
Pochettino’s decision to start Pulisic reportedly did not sit well with Milan officials, who thought the U.S. coach should’ve taken a conservative approach.
Adding to the tension was the U.S. Soccer Federation’s decision to play back-to-back friendlies in the heat of Texas and cool of Colorado.
After Tuesday’s match, Pochettino suggested the temperature difference played a part in hamstring injuries to Pulisic and midfielder Malik Tillman, who sat out the Australia game.
“I think it’s a thing that is a massive risk,” Pochettino said. “It is difficult. The difference in temperature can affect your body. That is something we need to fix for the future.”
In Pulisic’s absence, Pochettino received major boosts from his sometimes-maligned striker corps. Folarin Balogun scored the second-half equalizer against Ecuador and Haji Wright recorded two goals — one in each half — during the 2-1 comeback victory over Australia in Commerce City, Colorado.
With the World Cup less than eight months away, national team coaches will have many sleepless nights, worried about injuries and fitness issues. They are largely powerless; players are fulltime employees of clubs, not national teams, leaving a country’s hopes and dreams largely in the hands of club coaches under immense pressure to win trophies and, in desperate cases, avoid relegation.
Milan carries high hopes of rebounding from a substandard 2024-25 season, when it finished eighth in Serie A (its worst finish in 10 years), lost in the Coppa Italia final and crashed out of the UEFA Champions League in the knockout-phase playoffs.
Category: General Sports
