Sergino Dest’s availability for the upcoming U.S. men’s national team window is in serious doubt.
Dest was substituted off in the 57th minute on Saturday during PSV’s 2-1 comeback Eredvisie victory over AZ Alkmaar. The USMNT defender grabbed his left hamstring and tumbled to the ground before eventually needing help from two of PSV’s medical staff to exit the field.
PSV did not provide a timetable for Dest’s return but the American did grant to be back in action by season’s end.
“Exactly how long Dest will be offside is currently difficult to predict,” a club statement read. “The 37-time international of the American team is focusing on a return to the final phase of the season, with the World Cup next summer in the United States, Canada and Mexico as the important goal.”
“I will do everything in my power to get back in top shape towards the end of the season and I am convinced that will work,” added Dest. “Thank you for the many heartwarming messages. That support only gives me extra motivation to work hard on my recovery.”
Dest, 25, missed most of last season as he recovered from a torn ACL during the end of the 2023-24 campaign. However, the versatile defender has since returned with a bang this season, scoring two goals and adding five assists in 35 appearances for the Dutch giants.
He earned four caps with the USMNT in 2025 and remains a top option for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup this June, but his new injury could force him out of upcoming home friendlies against Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31).
PSV are 20 points clear atop the Eredvisie table but have already been eliminated from this season’s UEFA Champions League and KNVB Cup.
there will be more to come in the buildup that will make some player decisions for Poch, too
unfortunate this crap, no doubt, mostly for the players imho, but the team too of course
people chuckled at me saying we should try out some bench backs in march, or have extras in world cup camp in may. this is precisely why.
that and we’re using freeman as RCB so in a 343 you can’t double-count him as both CB and as dest’s contingency.
you then need to know, is weah the next option, or fossey, or scally, or do we call up another CB and push freeman wide.
you ignore this at your “wondo” expense. he wasn’t going to really play, or was going to be used to press teams late in games. and then suddenly injuries and subs, and he’s in a contested game, needs to finish that sitter in the knockouts.
it’s kind of like sometimes it matters whether your NFL team drafts well in the late rounds or who makes the roster or the practice squad at the end of the 53.
No one counts Freeman as a CB except 2tone. Freeman and Scally can play there in the eventuality Dest has not recovered by June.
Poch wants a 3-2-4-1 when we have the ball. He’s done it with 3 CBs, 2 CBs and a #6, or 2 CBs and a FB. He’s used both midfielders and FBs as the outsides in his line of 4. That flexibility allows him to even play without a traditional RB if needed. Often with Dest available it was the LB who stayed home, hence why people think Freeman and Scally have played RCB because they have sat home when Arfsten went forward. Weah fits perfectly in that RWB role. IIs it ideal? NO, Dest is one of our 5 best players and a significant upgrade to Joe or Alex, but it’s hardly a Sky is falling issue. I mean if you wanted to try a new RB next in line are Reynolds, Moore, and DJones (Fossey out injured) all who have caps under Poch (maybe not Reynolds). The time to experiment with depth has passed, it’s time to fine tune. That’s why Poch has called in 67 players during his tenure.
excellent post JR, thank you
IV
“people chuckled at me saying we should try out some bench backs in march, or have extras in world cup camp in may. this is precisely why.”
??? What a load of bullshit.
You think you are the only person who understands that injuries happen?
Dest’s injury doesn’t really change anything unless it turns out to be worse than advertised and keeps him out of the WC.
Everyone on SBI all know that injuries are going to determine the final look of the 26. Pochettino figured that out while you were still in high school.
Ideally the March friendlies would have served as a way to fine tune the WC starters and the most likely 5-8 subs. And the March games still can serve that function because injuries to starters during the World Cup are probable so they need to practice dealing with it within the context of a 26 man roster. Meaning that any 26 man roster they assemble will likely have more than enough capable right backs or right wingbacks.
You probably did not notice because you were too busy gloating but Weah, Weston, Freeman, and maybe can’t play left back Max, or possibly Scally were all going to be called in anyway and could slot in nicely for Sergino.
There are already more than enough candidates to fill in for Dest. In fact, a healthy Dest is not exactly a lock to be a starter or even to play.
So this is a good time to find out how that looks.
James Sands also left St. Pauli’s match today w/injury.
James Sands not going to be on the roster anyway.