By FRANCO PANIZO
If Sunderland manager Gus Poyet is to be believed, Jozy Altidore will be recovered from his hamstring injury in time to partake in the start of the club’s preseason.
Poyet told Sunderland’s website Thursday that he expects Altidore to be healthy enough to practice with the team when the forward returns from his summer break. The 24-year-old Altidore suffered a Grade 2 tear in his left hamstring in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup opener against Ghana on June 16, and missed the remainder of the Americans’ stay in Brazil.
Altidore’s absence from the rest of the tournament left some observers to wonder how long he would be sidelined for, but Poyet is confident that Altidore will be ready to train with the rest of the Black Cats squad soon.
“I am sure, if nothing goes wrong, that when Jozy is back with us for preseason he is going to be fit to start training without any problems,” said Poyet.
Poyet’s comments also seem to downplay the notion that Altidore would leave Sunderland this summer. Altidore endured a rough first season at the club, and many fans and pundits questioned whether he would stick around for a second campaign.
I appears that will be the case, according to Poyet.
“We know hamstring injuries are tricky and that you have to be careful not to come back too quickly,” said Poyet. “Jozy deserves his holidays now. We have an agreement as to how many days he will have after finishing in the World Cup (before returning).”
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What do you make of this development? Should Altidore rest a little longer? Think it would be a good move for him to tough it out at Sunderland?
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