Pulisic omitted from US squad for Nations League games

Christian Pulisic has been ruled out of the United States CONCACAF Nation Leagues matches against Canada and Cuba after being injured in a Chelsea match against Crystal Palace.

The US striker got hurt while scoring his fifth goal of the season when he collided with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita during a header in the 79th minute Saturday. Pulisic is in stellar form and became just the fourth American to score in three consecutive Premier League matches, after Roy Wegerle, Joe Max-Moore and Clint Dempsey.

“This was a collaborative decision with the club, looking after the best interests of the player,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said at training Monday.

“It was a risk that we just weren’t willing to take at this time.”

Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley was to have been on the roster but was dropped after he hurt his right ankle during Sunday’s Major League Soccer (MLS) title game.

“You see him laying everything on the line to win the game, and things like that happen,” Berhalter said. “It’s unfortunate.”

Seattle midfielder Christian Roldan and forward Jordan Morris were added to the 23-man roster after the Sounders’ 3-1 win over Toronto. Minnesota defender Chase Gasper was dropped along with Salt Lake forward Corey Baird. The US plays Canada in Orlando on Friday and meets Cuba four days later at George Town, Cayman Islands. To advance to the Nations League semifinals, the Americans (1-1) must win both games and make up a goal difference of four against Canada (3-0).

Meanwhile, Netherlands-born teenager Sergino Dest was named in the United States squad for upcoming CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers on Monday for the first time since rejecting overtures from the country of his birth.

The talented Ajax fullback qualifies for the United States through his American father, and last month confirmed he planned to represent the US despite interest from Dutch authorities.

The 19-year-old appeared for the US in a 3-0 friendly defeat by Mexico in September, but was free to consider a switch of allegiance because the game was not a competitive fixture.

Dest was named in a 23-man US squad for games against Canada on November 15 in Orlando and Cuba on November 19 which will take place in the Cayman Islands.

Agence France-Presse