United States men’s national team striker Patrick Agyemang has suffered a serious Achilles tendon injury, his club Derby County has confirmed, ruling the 25-year-old out of the World Cup.
Agyemang sustained the injury during Derby’s 2-0 home win over Stoke City in the English second tier on Monday, with the American taken off on a stretcher during the first half.
A Derby statement on Tuesday morning read: “Patrick will be undergoing a further assessment of the injury later today … At this stage it would be wrong to put a timeline on his recovery.”
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino played Agyemang in both friendlies during the March international window, the Derby man’s first national team appearances since last July.
Agyemang has six goals in 14 USMNT games since making his debut last year, and has contributed 10 goals in 37 matches for Derby this season, helping their challenge for a playoff spot in the Championship.
The injury will also rule Agyemang out of Derby’s final five regular-season matches, with John Eustace’s side eighth in the English second-tier, two places off the playoffs.
Pochettino must name his World Cup roster by May 30. The U.S., co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico, plays Paraguay, Australia and Turkey in Group D.
A blow to the USMNT’s depth
Analysis by senior soccer writer Paul Tenorio
You can make a decent argument that Agyemang might have leapfrogged Ricardo Pepi on the depth chart during the March window, when he got 65 minutes off the bench compared to the PSV Eindhoven man’s 20.
The 6ft 4ins (193cm) Agyemang adds a different element for the U.S. up top, and it looks like he’s learned how to use his frame much more to his advantage while playing in the Championship.
There looked to be a real battle for places at No 9 depth in Pochettino’s squad, with presumed starter Folarin Balogun of Monaco, Pepi, Agyemang and Coventry City’s Haji Wright all vying for a World Cup roster spot.
A long-term injury to the Derby striker, though, feels like it has made Pochettino’s decision for him, and it is a blow to the American depth ahead of the World Cup, for sure.
