The U.S. men’s national team will already be without Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest for its crucial March World Cup qualifiers and could be forced to add Brenden Aaronson’s name to that list after a knee issue forced him out of Red Bull Salzburg’s match on Sunday.
Aaronson was forced to miss Sunday’s 4-1 league win for Red Bull Salzburg due to a knee problem discovered in pre-match warm-ups. The USMNT attacker recently logged 120 minutes in Red Bull Salzburg’s 6-5 penalty shootout win over Wolfsberger in the Austrian Cup semifinals midweek.
The 21-year-old has started in eight of 10 matches for Matthias Jaissle’s side in 2022, scoring two goals in league play and adding two assists against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Aaronson also appeared in all three of the USMNT’s World Cup Qualifiers this calendar year, starting only in a 2-0 loss to Canada back on Jan. 30.
In total, Aaronson has totaled 46 appearances for club and country this season, scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists across all competitions.
The USMNT sits second in the octagonal round standings in Concacaf World Cup qualifying with 21 points heading into its final three matches of qualifying. Gregg Berhalter’s team is four points ahead of fourth-place Panama in the race for automatic qualification into the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Americans face Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica in their final matches this month, which begins with a trip to Estadio Azteca on Thursday.
I hope, he just needs rest! ‘Why can’t we have nice things?’ 46 matches for club & country accounts for Salzburg, & USMNT to the present. That doesn’t include the playoff run with the Union before Austria. Don’t know how many minutes this adds up to, but I know, he’s put a lot of mileage on those wheels, shocks & breaks, with no rest since pre-MLS Is Back tourney. BA has played a lot in the last 2 years, I’m surprised his body didn’t betray him sooner. …then again, what do I know? I just found out his nickname was the Medford Messi last month.
Dreadful news. Now we may be out our best two field players thru qualis and starting keeper for the most important games of the cycle. Gotta say I am getting nervous, this is setting up to be a really tough 3 games to get points. The (healthy) players are going to have to step up.
The announcer during the seattle Austin game (I think lallas) said Aaronson was still coming.
Oh lord….say it ain’t sooooo
Weston McKennie (two broken bones in left foot)
Sergiño Dest (strained left thigh)
Matt Turner (foot/ankle)
…..now Brenden Aaronson?!! Say it ain’t so. Hope it’s just a knock
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I guess start warming up Đorđe Mihailović……we are going to need you (or maybe Josh Sargent as a midfielder🤔)
Bizzy – I heard Hoppe was on a reserve list so maybe it will be him. I am a little nervous about who it might be … Yikes!!
Well, we’re gunna be short handed. It we were for nations league and gold cup too. Hopefully the boys show up wanting to fight.
McKennie, Turner, Dest..We are at the point where we silently hoped no one played this weekend, or played minimal minute, so no more key players would get injured. Adams rode the bench, as did Pepi. Aaronson has been a workhorse all through WCQ, and will yet another major blow if he cannot go. Guessing Sargent needs to have his bags packed and ready if the call is made.
For a guy whose game is highly dependent on constant motion, this is omnious.
I hope he takes proper care and does not try to rush back for these qualifiers. After all , Ariola and Roldan are there to fill in for him.
Well, that stinks.