USMNT forward Haji Wright has left the U.S. camp and will return to his club after picking up an injury
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Haji Wright has left USMNT camp with Achilles injuryWill return to Coventry City for further examinationLeaves U.S. manager Pochettino shorthanded at forwardFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The U.S. were dealt a significant injury blow this weekend, with Haji Wright picking up an Achilles injury that will rule him out for the remainder of the Gold Cup, the USMNT announced. Wright missed the second fixture of the U.S.'s Gold Cup campaign, but was expected to be a key fixture in Mauricio Pochettino's squad for the remainder of the tournament.
"It’s sad. He’s a very good guy and added a lot of quality in the group as a different option," Pochettino said in Saturday's pregame press conference. "He's a player that can play different positions in attack. Yes, a sad situation, sad for him, sad for the team, yeah, but I think we need to prioritize his process of recovery. A sad moment, but we need to be looking forward and try to accept the reality and keep being strong."
Wright will now return to his club team Coventry City for further evaluation.
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Wright figured to be a valuable option in multiple positions for Pochettino at the tournament. The Coventry man can play either on the left or through the middle of a front three – although he didn't start the first game of the campaign. The 27-year-old made his presence felt in the Americans' Gold Cup opener as he scored after being subbed in the team's 5-0 win.
Pochettino revealed Wright had arrived to the U.S. camp with pain in his Achilles.
“For Haji. He already arrived with some problems with the Achilles," the manager said. "We could not fix the problem with the pain. That is why we made the decision we had to make”
Per Gold Cup tournament rules, Wright cannot be replaced on the roster.
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Wright has impressed for Coventry of late, becoming a key man for the He has scored 31 goals in all competitions across the last two seasons, leading Coventry to an FA Cup semifinal in 2024 and a Premier League promotion push last season.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR WRIGHT AND USMNT?
There is no timeline for Wright's return to play. The U.S. conclude their Gold Cup group stage against Haiti on Sunday.
