United States star Christian Pulisic says he will be available for the Americans’ final Group D clash against Turkey on Thursday in Inglewood, Calif.
“I’m feeling great. I think the team’s feeling great,” Pulisic told Fox Sports on Tuesday, after he missed last Friday’s 2-0 win over Australia with a calf injury. “I’ve been able to join the team in the last few days, and I’m feeling healthy and ready to go for this game.”
With 33 international goals, the 27-year-old Pulisic is the USMNT’s active scoring leader and one of their most important players.
He was excellent over 45 minutes in the Americans’ 4-1 tournament opening victory over Paraguay, a performance that included an assist on Folarin Balogun’s first goal as well as a build-up run in the opening own goal. But he departed at halftime after tweaking an injury he carried into the match.
With the U.S. already clinching the top spot in the group, the question for manager Mauricio Pochettino is how many minutes for Pulisic would be ideal.
A start and extended minutes could help maintain fitness levels, but a shorter spell off the bench or another rest day would lessen the possibility of aggravating the issue again before the Americans’ round of 32 match on July 1 in Santa Clara, Calif.
“I’ll discuss that with my coaches and the medical staff,” Pulisic told reporters when asked about his potential playing time. “Obviously not a good chance I’ll probably go and play 90 (minutes) right away normally, after you come back and miss a game, but we’ll see.”
The United States’ second round opponent will be a yet-to-be-determined third-place finisher from Groups B, E, F, I or J.
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
