USMNT’s Folarin Balogun injures shoulder ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s first games as USA coach

U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun came off in the second half of Monaco’s win over Rennes Saturday with an apparent shoulder injury, raising questions about whether or not he will be able to participate in Mauricio Pochettino’s first friendlies in charge of the national team.

Balogun came off in the 64th minute of Monaco’s 2-1 victory at Rennes but left his impact on the game by scoring the game-winner in the 22nd minute. The visitors took an early lead with a sixth-minute goal from Thilo Kehrer, but Rennes scored just five minutes later courtesy of Ludovic Blas. Balogun’s goal continues their unbeaten start to the season in all competitions, keeping them on pace with reigning French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

With his goal on Saturday, Balogun now has three goals in three consecutive league games, making him one of a few in-form American players to start the European club season. The forward has also performed well for the USMNT in recent months despite the team’s downward turn – he notched an assist in their 1-1 draw with New Zealand last month and scored two goals during the Copa America before the team’s group stage exit.

Should Balogun be unable to join the USMNT, his withdrawal from the squad would no doubt be a blow for Pochettino, though the new head coach still has a few options available to him. Josh Sargent and Ricardo Pepi are the main contenders for the starting spot at center forward, both of whom are also off to a decent start this season. Sargent has four goals and three assists for Norwich City in nine games, while Pepi has three goals in 10 games for PSV. The versatile Timothy Weah could also slot in as a No. 9 after playing there for Juventus earlier this season, despite usually playing for the national team as a wide forward.

Whoever Pochettino selects will likely line up alongside Christian Pulisic, who has five goals and two assists for AC Milan in nine games this season.

Pochettino’s predecessor Gregg Berhalter would usually start three forwards, with Pulisic and Weah playing on the wings while Balogun earned a spot in the middle. Though Pochettino will work with a group that closely resembles the core player pool that Berhalter built, it is unclear if he will choose the same tactical plan once the time comes to finally select his first USMNT lineups.

The USMNT will convene in Austin, Texas this week ahead of a friendly against Panama on Saturday before traveling to Guadalajara to face regional rival Mexico on Oct. 15.