Christian Pulisic might be sidelined for up to a month due to a hamstring injury sustained during the U.S. men’s national team’s friendly match against Australia on Tuesday.
According to La Repubblica, Pulisic’s club, AC Milan, is frustrated with USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino for starting him even though he had been showing ankle issues lately.
ESPN also reported that Pulisic remains in the U.S. after his flight to Milan was delayed and is awaiting a full evaluation from his club.
His medical tests have been pushed to Friday, according to the Italian outlet. Pulisic won’t participate in AC Milan’s upcoming match against Fiorentina on Sunday, and if the injury is confirmed, he will also miss games against Pisa, Atalanta, Roma, and Parma.
Recently, Pulisic has been dealing with right ankle issues, only coming on as a substitute in the friendly against Ecuador last Friday, where he made an appearance late in the game.
He started in the 2-1 victory over Australia but had to leave in the 26th minute because of his injury. Pochettino suggested that the shift from Texas to Colorado’s climate might have played a role in Pulisic’s condition.
“It’s a significant risk. I don’t want to blame Christian or anyone else, but it was a challenging situation for the players,” Pochettino commented, expressing disappointment over the injury. “We prepare, then we play. This situation is tough.” He added that the temperature difference could impact players’ performances and that it’s a concern that needs addressing for the future.
This season, Pulisic has been a standout for AC Milan, netting six goals and providing two assists in the initial seven matches.
