U.S. Striker Sargent Faces Uncertain Future for Colombia Friendly and Copa America

Josh Sargent's participation in Saturday's friendly against Colombia and the upcoming Copa America is in jeopardy due to an injury.

United States striker Josh Sargent is facing an uncertain future for Saturday's friendly against Colombia and the upcoming Copa America tournament due to an injury.

The 24-year-old from O'Fallon, Missouri, scored 16 goals in 26 league games with Norwich in England's second-tier League Championship but finished the season while playing with foot swelling.

U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Friday that Sargent will not be fit to play in the Colombia game. He added that the team will have to assess Sargent's condition before making a decision on his inclusion in the Copa America roster.

"He's not going to be fit to play in the Columbia game. 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 on the Copa America roster," Berhalter said.

After the U.S. plays Colombia at Landover, Maryland, it meets Brazil on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida. At Copa America, the U.S. opens the tournament against Bolivia on June 23 at Arlington, Texas, faces Panama four days later and Uruguay on July 1 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Twenty-six-man Copa America rosters are due June 15.

Berhalter also said that he has yet to decide on a replacement at right back for Sergiño Dest, who tore his right ACL in April.

"Copa America is essential to the growth of this group, and I believe this is a very important tournament for us as a team. This is the last major tournament before the World Cup. We'll have Gold Cup, but the caliber of teams does not match Copa America," Berhalter said.

"It is a building block in which to go into the World Cup confident. So I think this can build a tremendous amount of momentum amongst the group. It can bring confidence to the team."

Sargent's injury is a blow to the U.S., which is already missing several key players due to injuries and club commitments.

Berhalter said that he will continue to monitor Sargent's condition and make a decision on his availability for the Copa America roster as soon as possible.

"We're going to have to make a decision if he makes it on the Copa America roster," Berhalter said. "We'll see how he progresses over the next few days."