Tag: Josh Sargent

Amid transfer interest, USMNT’s Sargent off the mark for Norwich City

Sargent showed why Norwich City is reportedly placing a $25 million valuation with his first goal of the Championship season

Josh Sargent isn’t letting the transfer rumors swirling around him distract from his job at Norwich City.

The U.S. men’s national team forward scored his first goal of the 2024-25 season, offering up a powerful finish in what became a 2-2 Championship draw with Blackburn.

Sargent also provided an assist as the Canaries took a second-half lead through Borja Sainz, but Norwich had to settle for a point after Yuki Ohashi’s late equalizer for the visitors.

With his side trailing 1-0 in the 65th minute, Sargent made his mark. Defender Callum Doyle’s clever pass found the USMNT man in a seam in Blackburn’s defense, but Sargent still had plenty to do.

Facing a somewhat tricky angle, Sargent could have cut the ball back, or tried to round his man to get to the endline for a cross. Instead, the 24-year-old called his own number, smashing a left-footed rocket past goalkeeper Aynsley Pears.

Sargent would do much of the heavy lifting as Norwich took the lead eight minutes later. The Missouri native won the ball at midfield, pushed into the Blackburn half, instigated a one-two to break through the visitors’ back line, and zipped a low cross in for Sainz to finish on the doorstep.

The good second half made up for a first half in which Sargent, by his own coach’s account, should have had a hat trick. However, Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup praised Sargent for brushing off the misses and getting the job done.

“We made some adjustments at halftime and came out way stronger in the second,” said Hoff Thorup. “Imagine [Sargent] going in at half-time knowing he could have scored a hat-trick? But he kept on going and showed the right attitude.”

Sargent will be hoping he can be just as prolific this season as he was last year. Despite missing a long spell due to ankle surgery, Sargent scored 16 times in 26 league appearances for the Canaries, at one point scoring 11 goals over a 14-game span.

That good form sparked some significant transfer interest in Sargent. GiveMeSport reported that FC Cincinnati offered as much as $20 million to bring the USMNT forward to MLS, only for Norwich to insist on a valuation over $25 million. Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that St. Louis City is also interested in Sargent’s signature.

Watch Sargent score his first goal of the season

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USMNT Copa America roster: Sargent makes the cut, Timothy Tillman dropped

Timothy Tillman was dropped from the squad, while two players with injury questions made the cut

Following two warm-up friendlies, the U.S. men’s national team has announced its 26-man roster for the Copa AmĂ©rica.

All 26 players have come from the team’s 27-man roster for the matches against Colombia and Brazil. LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman is the one player who was dropped from the squad.

That means there were places on the squad for Tyler Adams and Josh Sargent, two players who entered this camp with injury question marks.

Sargent was unable to play in either friendly as he continues working his way back from a foot injury, which stems from an ankle surgery over the winter.

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said prior to the Brazil match that the Norwich City forward was “progressing well” but still wasn’t ready for game action.

After being held out against Colombia, Adams came on as a second-half sub against Brazil. The midfielder had played just 10 total minutes since March, when he returned from a long-term hamstring injury only to be sidelined for seven of Bournemouth’s last eight games with back spasms.

After a heavy defeat against Colombia and a draw against Brazil, the USMNT will now look ahead to its Copa América opener on June 23 against Bolivia.

Following that match, Berhalter’s side will face Panama on June 27 and close out group play against Uruguay on July 1.

Full USMNT Copa America roster (club; caps/goals)

Goalkeepers (3): 18-Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; 9), 25-Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; 13), 1-Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; 41)

Defenders (9): 2-Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; 17/0), 23-Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; 3/0), 24-Mark McKenzie (Genk; 13/0), 16-Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 19/1), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham; 58/1), 3-Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; 18/1), 5-Antonee Robinson (Fulham; 43/4), 12-Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 29/3), 22-Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; 11/0)

Midfielders (7): 4-Tyler Adams (Bournemouth; 39/2), 15-Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; 13/0), 14-Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo; 21/0), 8-Weston McKennie (Juventus; 53/11), 6-Yunus Musah (AC Milan; 37/0), 7-Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; 28/8), 17-Malik Tillman (PSV; 11/0)

Forwards (7): 11-Brenden Aaronson (Leeds; 41/8), 20-Folarin Balogun (Monaco; 12/3), 9-Ricardo Pepi (PSV; 25/10), 10-Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; 68/29), 26-Josh Sargent (Norwich City; 23/5), 21-Tim Weah (Juventus; 39/6), 19-Haji Wright (Coventry City; 10/4)

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Berhalter: Adams available for limited minutes vs. Brazil

The midfielder has only played 10 minutes since March as he battles back spasms

U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter has said Tyler Adams will be available to play limited minutes in Wednesday’s friendly against Brazil, while also ruling out Josh Sargent for a second straight game.

Adams has played just 10 total minutes since March, as the midfielder returned from a long-term hamstring injury only to be sidelined for seven of Bournemouth’s last eight games with back spasms.

The 25-year-old was called into camp for the USMNT’s friendlies against Colombia and Brazil, but was held out of Saturday’s humbling 5-1 defeat against the former.

At his pre-game press conference on Tuesday, Berhalter said Adams was available to play against Brazil — but only in limited fashion.

“Tyler will be available to play limited minutes, and my guess is it’s under 45 minutes that he’s able to play,” the USMNT coach said.

Berhalter also said Sargent wouldn’t be able to play as he continues battling a foot injury stemming from an ankle surgery over the winter.

“Josh is progressing well,” Berhalter said. “He won’t take part in this game [against Brazil] but he is progressing well. I think he’s out at Orlando City’s training ground right now doing a session by himself with a trainer.”

The USMNT currently has 27 players in camp, with up to 26 players eligible for Copa América rosters. Berhalter will name his final squad for the tournament after the match against Brazil.

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Berhalter admits Sargent could miss Copa America with injury

The striker is still suffering from the lingering effects of ankle surgery in the fall

U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter has ruled Josh Sargent out of Saturday’s game against Colombia due to a lingering ankle injury, adding that the issue could keep him out of Copa AmĂ©rica as well.

Sargent has been training separately from his USMNT teammates this week, as the team prepares to face Colombia at Commanders Field outside of Washington, D.C.

The Norwich City striker broke his ankle early in the season and was forced to miss four months after surgery. Though he returned in December and put together an excellent campaign, the 24-year-old periodically battled lingering effects of the injury.

Sargent was forced off the USMNT’s Nations League roster in March due to the injury, and was also removed early from both legs of Norwich’s Championship playoff semifinal loss to Leeds.

In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Berhalter was asked about the Missouri native’s health.

“We’ve been training with Josh both in the gym on the field, and he’s not going to be fit to play in the Colombia game,” the coach said. “We’ll have to see if he makes it for the Brazil game, and then we’ll have to make a decision if he makes it in the Copa AmĂ©rica roster.”

“He’s had a nagging foot injury. We’ve been unloading him, then giving him some more and then we’ve been testing him, just to see where he’s at. And for us, it’s about how do we get him ready and prepared in a good way, and then make a decision if he’ll be available.”

Following Saturday’s game against Colombia, the USMNT will head to Orlando to face Brazil on Tuesday in its final pre-Copa AmĂ©rica friendly. Berhalter’s side kicks off the tournament on June 23 against Bolivia.

The USMNT currently has 27 players in camp, with up to 26 players eligible for Copa América rosters. Should Sargent be unable to play, Berhalter could simply continue with every other player in camp.

The coach added that he could also bring a new player onto the roster from the USMNT’s Copa AmĂ©rica preliminary squad, which has a maximum of 55 players.

On those choices, Berhalter said: “It’s bridge that we’ll cross when we get to it.”

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USMNT forward Sargent in doubt for Copa America as ankle injury returns

The forward has been dealing with ankle issues for most of the season

Josh Sargent’s troublesome ankle injury could keep the U.S. men’s national team striker out of the Copa AmĂ©rica.

Sargent was withdrawn at halftime on Thursday, as Norwich City fell 4-0 to Leeds in the second leg of a Championship playoff semifinal.

The striker was also forced off late in the first leg as he continues to battle a lingering injury from earlier in the season.

Sargent broke his ankle early in the season and was forced to miss four months after surgery. The 24-year-old managed to put together a prolific campaign after returning, scoring 16 goals, but periodically battled recurring ankle soreness.

Following Thursday’s game, Norwich head coach David Wagner admitted that the striker was a doubt for the USMNT this summer.

“We have managed him more or less the whole time since he got back from his injury. I think everyone knows this. It is great credit to Josh with what he has done and how hard he has worked,” Wagner said.

“What this means now for the summer? At the minute I have no idea. There is going to be for sure some thorough investigations and assessment of him, to see how serious it is and what he has to do to come back to his best in pre-season.”

Sargent was called in for the Nations League finals in March, but was forced to withdraw from the U.S. roster due to his ankle injury.

The USMNT will kick off the Copa América on June 23 against Bolivia.

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Norwich faces nervous wait over Sargent status for Championship playoff vs. Leeds

Sargent faces a race against time to recover for the second leg against Leeds

Norwich City will be hoping for good news after watching leading goalscorer Josh Sargent depart the first leg of its promotion playoff against Leeds with an injury.

The U.S. men’s national team forward was forced off in the 84th minute, and manager David Wagner confirmed that the issue was with the same ankle that required surgery earlier this season.

Sargent missed nearly four full months for the Canaries, only to return to play in inspired form. The Missouri native scored 13 times in 22 matches, helping Norwich claim the final spot in the Championship’s promotion playoffs.

However, Sargent took a seat away from the ball late on against Leeds, departing a tense 0-0 draw at Carrow Road in the 84th minute. After receiving treatment briefly, Sargent slowly walked off under his own power.

Wagner hopes ‘tough guy’ Sargent returns

Speaking to reporters after the match, Wagner offered some hope that the USMNT striker would be available in Thursday’s second leg at Elland Road.

“Obviously [Sargent] wasn’t able to carry on,” said Wagner. “I haven’t spoken with him or the medical department in any detail. I think he has some problems with his ankle again.

“But, he’s a tough guy, and obviously it’s a big game. I hope and I think he will be fine.”

Norwich’s task will be simple: win on Thursday, and the Canaries will move on to the world’s most lucrative one-off match, a one-game playoff final at Wembley against either West Brom or Southampton. With no away goals rule in place, a draw by any score will send the tie to extra time.

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Sargent returns with another Norwich goal after missing USMNT duty

The USMNT forward continued his incredible campaign with a goal vs. Plymouth

Josh Sargent’s incredible season continued on Friday, as the Norwich City striker fired home another goal in his side’s 2-1 comeback win over Plymouth.

Sargent scored his 14th goal of the campaign midway through the second half, equalizing the match off a well-worked routine from a corner kick. Seven minutes later, the Canaries took the lead for good thanks to a Plymouth own goal.

With the win, Norwich made it seven straight victories at home and maintained its spot in the sixth and final playoff position in the Championship table.

Sargent’s 14-goal haul is made even more impressive by the fact he missed four months of the season with an ankle injury. Despite all that time on the sideline, only five players in the Championship have more goals this season than the Missouri native.

After receiving his first call-up since the 2022 World Cup, Sargent was forced off the U.S. men’s national team roster this month with an ankle injury.

The 24-year-old didn’t end up missing any club matches, however, as he was able to return in Norwich’s first game following the international break.

Meanwhile, Sargent’s replacement on the USMNT roster, Haji Wright, also found the net on Friday, as the Coventry City striker scored his 14th of the season in his side’s 3-1 win over Huddersfield.

Watch Sargent’s goal vs. Plymouth

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USMNT calls Aaronson, Wright up for Nations League as injury replacements

Snubbed no more, Aaronson and Wright will get their shot at the Nations League

The U.S. men’s national team has had to make a pair of changes, with Gregg Berhalter adding Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright to his squad for the Concacaf Nations League.

The duo will join up with the USMNT after Luca de la Torre and Josh Sargent had to withdraw from the team with injuries ahead of Thursday’s semifinal against Jamaica in Arlington, Texas.

De la Torre was forced to withdraw with what U.S. Soccer called a quadriceps strain, while Sargent — whose superb recent form earned him his first call-up since 2022 — will miss out due to ankle irritation.

The recall comes at a critical time for Aaronson. The New Jersey native said he is enduring “the toughest year of my life” on Saturday, shortly after what was arguably his best single-game performance with Union Berlin. Aaronson scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Werder Bremen, just two minutes after notching his first assist of the year.

Wright, meanwhile, is flying high. The USMNT recall comes a day after the Coventry City striker notched a stunning stoppage-time winner to send the Sky Blues through to the FA Cup semifinals. The Californian has eight goals in Coventry’s last 10 matches.

Despite the injury news, Berhalter had a series of options to sort through, particularly in replacing Sargent. Brandon Vazquez has been thriving since completing a winter transfer to Monterrey, while Jordan Pefok has started 10 straight for Borussia Mönchengladbach. If a wide attacker had been preferred, the list of players vying for a spot would have to include Kevin Paredes, Cade Cowell, Alex Zendejas, and Griffin Yow.

If Berhalter had concerns about the balance of his squad going too attack-heavy, Gianluca Busio, and Aidan Morris could have all been in the mix as well. Another option, Lennard Maloney, remains out for Heidenheim with a knock.

Updated USMNT Nations League finals roster

Goalkeepers (3): 22-Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), 18-Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; 9/0), 1-Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; 37/0)

Defenders (8): 2-Sergino Dest (PSV; 32/2), 23-Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; 3/0), 16-Mark McKenzie (Genk; 13/0), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham; 55/1), 3-Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; 14/1), 5-Antonee Robinson (Fulham; 39/4), 12-Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 28/3), 19-Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach; 8/0)

Midfielders (5): 4-Tyler Adams (Bournemouth; 36/1), 15-Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; 9/0), 8-Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 49/11), 6-Yunus Musah (AC Milan; 33/0), 7-Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest; 24/7)

Forwards (7): 11-Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 38/8), 20-Folarin Balogun (Monaco; 8/3), 17-Malik Tillman (PSV; 8/0), 9-Ricardo Pepi (PSV; 22/10), 10-Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; 64/28), 21-Tim Weah (Juventus; 35/5), 14-Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 7/2)

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Norwich boss Wagner: Sargent injury return expected by January

The striker underwent surgery this month for an ankle ligaments injury

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has said Josh Sargent is expected to return from his ankle injury by January.

Sargent underwent surgery after suffering the injury last month in Norwich’s match against Huddersfield. The U.S. men’s national team striker was off to a hot start with the Championship outfit, scoring three goals in four league matches to open the new campaign.

Speaking to reporters, Wagner said he is hopeful that the 23-year-old will return before the new year.

“We saw Josh on Wednesday the first time in the building after his surgery,” Wagner said. “Looks good. Obviously, I’ve spoken with him and he does not need any painkillers any longer, which is the good information. Next week, he gets out of stitches, which is then the next step and it still is the time frame which we set — Christmas, early January — when we hope to have him come back.

“Everything went well so far. But now obviously it’s all about recovery and then to have a proper rehab, and then a proper build up of his fitness,”

Sargent last featured for the USMNT at the World Cup in Qatar, where he played in all three group-stage matches. Overall, the Missouri native has scored five USMNT goals in 23 caps.

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Norwich coach: Sargent will miss ‘months’ with ankle injury

The 23-year-old is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines

Josh Sargent is set to miss “months, not weeks” with an ankle injury suffered over the weekend, according to Norwich City head coach David Wagner.

Sargent injured his ankle while scoring the opening goal in Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Huddersfield. The striker blocked a clearance from goalkeeper Lee Nicholls and as he leapt to head into an open net, the trailing Nicholls barged him over and landed on his ankle.

Speaking to the media after Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Bristol City, Wagner confirmed that Sargent was set to miss a significant portion of the season.

“We still don’t have a clear picture, but what is sure is it’s a serious injury,” Wagner said. “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 we expected.”

Asked if the injury was to Sargent’s ankle ligaments, Wagner said: “Exactly.”

The injury is a major blow to club and player, with Sargent scoring three goals in four Championship matches to start to the new campaign. That followed a 13-goal campaign in the Championship last term.

Sargent looks likely to miss U.S. men’s national team matches in September, October and November. The 23-year-old last featured for the USMNT at the World Cup in Qatar, where he played in all three group-stage matches.

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