United States Mens National Team striker Josh Sargent will be missing four weeks of action following groin surgery, his club Norwich confirmed on Friday.
Norwich currently sit 12th in the English second division. The 24-year-old has scored four goals and five assists in 9 games this season and has been one of the standout players in the league alongside Borja Sainz, who has 11 goals. His positive performances spurred rumors that Premier League teams were interested in signing him. Norwich manager Johannes Hoff Thorup said:
“He has had the surgery and it will be eight weeks from there, which was Monday or Tuesday. Now it’s just about rehab and nice and easy getting back in.”
Sargent’s ankle has been a recurring issue for him. He missed three months of action in 2022 due to an ankle injury, and then another four months out in 2023 for the same thing. Last season, he scored 16 goals in 30 appearances after returning from injury.
He joined Norwich from German club Werder Bremen in 2021. Since then, he has made 101 league appearances and scored 35 goals. New USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino also utilized him in last month’s victory over Panama, although this injury means that Sargent will be out of contention for the upcoming Nations League quarterfinal vs. Jamaica on November 14th and 18th.
Norwich will now look to remain in the hunt for playoff contention into the Premier League without their talismanic striker, who is now considered to be one of the best all-around strikers in the Championship. In a silver lining for Norwich, they may be thankful that an injury would scare away potential transfers and make it easier to retain the American, should he effectively make his way back from the treatment table and remain injury-free.
