Chelsea's Christian Pulisic is an important part of the USMNT set-up. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
According to the Evening Standard, Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic has picked up an unspecified knock in a training session before the United States’ international friendly against Japan in Dusseldorf. The Asian side won the game 2-0.
Pulisic was all set to earn his 52nd international cap in this game, but the latest lineup from coach Gregg Berhalter did not have the 23-year-old. When asked, the coach said the forward picked up a knock earlier in the week, with the injury name and extent not specified yet.
He will now be evaluated on a day-to-day basis to see how his response is to the diagnosis and treatment. USA play Saudi Arabia in Murcia on Tuesday in what would be their final international friendly before the Qatar World Cup starting in November.
Keeping that in mind, Berhalter would ideally be looking to give Pulisic some minutes in that game to get him tuned with the team before the major event, provided the knock he picked up is not very serious.
The former Borussia Dortmund man is yet to start a league game for Chelsea this season after a stop-start campaign last time around. With the change in manager at Stamford Bridge, he could get an opportunity in games after the international break.
If this knock does keep Pulisic out of the next international game, it is vital that he plays club football before going to Qatar. For that to happen, he needs to get fit soon and train well to attract the eyes of the new boss Graham Potter.
Chelsea could also do with him being fit and playing games. The 23-year-old has the talent and versatility in terms of playing in different positions and the final product to be an effective player in and around the penalty box.
We play Crystal Palace next on October 1st in the Premier League after the end of the international break. Hopefully, the ex-Borussia Dortmund star is fit to make the matchday squad that day.
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