Michael Bradley's first season with Roma has hit its first speed bump.
According to Italian publication Gazzetta Dello Sport, Bradley suffered a muscle strain in his right leg and will be out for Roma's trip to Inter Milan this weekend. There is no timetable given for his return, and the injury will be monitored in the coming days, so it is unclear how it will affect his standing for the U.S. men's national team's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica on Sept. 7 and 11.
Bradley started and played all of Roma's 2-2 draw with Catania over the weekend, assisting on the stoppage-time equalizer with a deep ball into the box that was finished off by Nicolas Lopez.
Here are a few more items involving Americans abroad:
MCCOIST HOPES TO KEEP BOCANEGRA
Rangers manager Ally McCoist has seen Americans Maurice Edu and Alejandro Bedoya depart amid the club's financial crisis and demotion to Scotland's fourth tier, but he is hoping to hold on to his captain and U.S. men's national team captain Carlos Bocanegra.
With the transfer deadline looming Friday, Bocaenegra is still at the Ibrox, having played in all six of Rangers' games across all competitions this season.
"Carlos is still very much a Rangers player," McCoist said on the club's official website. "There’s been no activity or movement or change in the situation regarding Carlos. So he’ll hopefully be involved in our next few games and he will be here post window. That’s where we are with Carlos, and the longer it goes the more chance there is he will stay.”
CASTILLO OUT WITH FOOT INJURY
One American who is unlikely to be getting the call for the qualifiers against Jamaica is Edgar Castillo, who has reportedly been ruled out for up to the next three weeks with a foot injury.
Castillo suffered the injury in Tijuana's victory over Club America Saturday at Estadio Azteca, the setting for where Castillo started for the U.S. against Mexico in the historic victory that took place two weeks ago today. Castillo's absence for Tijuana could pave the way for 21-year-old U.S. left back Greg Garza to step into the starting lineup.
BEDOYA, HELSINGBORG LOOK TO OVERTURN DEFICIT
If Alejandro Bedoya is to join Sacha Kljestan, Jermaine Jones and Michael Parkhurst in the UEFA Champions League group stage, then his club is going to have to come up with a major road performance.
After dropping the home leg of their UCL final qualifying round bout against Celtic last week by a 2-0 scoreline, Bedoya's Helsingborg needs to overturn the deficit at Celtic Park to entertain thoughts of advancing. Should Celtic maintain its edge and advance, Helsingborg would drop down to the UEFA Europa League group stage.
—————————-
Disappointed that Bradley won't get to face Inter? How would you feel about the USMNT's chances against Jamaica if he were forced to miss out? Can you picture Bocanegra playing out the season with fourth-tier Rangers? Do you think a healthy Castillo should merit another U.S. call-up for upcoming qualifiers? Do you see any chance that Helsingborg overturns its deficit to Celtic?
Share your thoughts below.
This equal treatment business is more of a guideline rather than a rule.
Players are not really treated equally because players are not of equal ability.
Dempsey, for example, can provide things that others cannot provide as consistently.
Boca is the captain and leader of the defense. At this point there is no reason to think he is any less of a player than he has been the last year or two. A couple months from now that may be different but I’m sure JK will worry about that then not now.
If JK is to be truly consistent he will field the 11 most likely to win. And if Boca is available, he is in that 11.
Thank you!
yeah, same with Beckerman. He’s never been “bad,” but has never stood out to me in a MNT uniform.
I kinda hope Bradley sits. He just got the injury, and even if it’s the “Grade 1” or whatever that person posted above, he would only just be “ready” for the qualifiers (and wouldn’t be in shape). With that type of injury, better safe than sorry. I had a strain years ago and sat 4 weeks. I have no idea what level it was, but if you aim for the higher end, you are good as new and won’t have to worry about lingering/worsening issues.