Christian Pulisic out of USA vs. Australia with calf injury

Christian Pulisic will not feature in the U.S. men’s national team’s second game of the World Cup because of a lingering calf injury.

Pulisic was removed as a precaution at halftime of the USMNT’s first game of the tournament, against Paraguay a week ago, with his status for Friday’s meeting with Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle uncertain since.

The 27-year-old has spent much of the week undertaking “modified training” sessions away from teammates while coach Mauricio Pochettino indicated on Thursday that, while he had been “evolving” and is “much better than” he was, he would be a gametime decision for Friday’s game.

He won’t play a part in Seattle with caution being taken so early in the tournament.

“Christian is not available. The evolution is really well,” Pochettino told Fox ahead of the game.

The U.S. next plays against Turkey to close Group D on Thursday back at SoFi Stadium, the site of last week’s opener.

“Today, he was training in the morning in the camp and I’ve seen the feelings are good,” Pochettino added. “I hope as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again and to be part of the team. Now, we need to be focussed on our team and the players that are going to play.

“We have ahead a very important game and Australia is going to be really tough. A little bit sad because he wanted to stay, wanted to participate today.”

Ricardo Pepi is Pulisic’s replacement which will represent a change in shape for the U.S. with the PSV forward likely to join Folarin Balogun up top.

The swap of Pepi for Pulisic is the only change from the starting XI that beat Paraguay.

The winner of Friday’s game will be the overwhelming favorite to top Group D and with it get a more favorable draw for the knockout stages.