Norwich City entered the 2023-24 English Football League Championship season as a candidate to earn promotion back to the top flight, but a new long-term absence of striker Josh Sargent is a major worry for David Wagner’s squad.

Sargent is set to miss “months” for the Canaries after suffering an injury to several ankle ligaments, Wagner confirmed postmatch on Tuesday after Norwich City advanced to the EFL Cup third round. The U.S. men’s national team forward suffered the injury in the first half of the Canaries 4-0 league win over Huddersfield Town last Saturday.

Sargent collided with Town goalkeeper Lee Nicholls after delivering the opening goal for the Canaries at the John Smith Stadium. The 23-year-old missed the Canaries 1-0 EFL Cup win over Bristol City on Tuesday and now looks set to miss majority of the league campaign.

“We are still waiting to have a clear picture. But what is sure it’s a serious injury,” said Wagner in a press conference transcribed by Pink UN. “So we speak more about months than weeks. We have to make a further assessment with him.

“He sees a further consultant and I think we have a clearer picture at the end of the week to know how many months and if he needs surgery, but it’s a serious injury. Which is what we expected. It is ankle ligaments.”

Sargent totaled three goals during the early stages of the league season for Norwich City, continuing where he left off in 2022-23 campaign. The Missouri native led the Canaries with 13 goals last season and entered the new season as their top scoring option.

However, his new injury will likely force him out of the first half of the league season, as well as potentially all three of the USMNT’s international windows this fall.

The USMNT will face Uzbekistan and Oman in September before taking on Germany and Ghana in October.

Sargent last featured for the USMNT in the third and final group stage match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He has scored five goals in 23 caps for the USMNT to date.