USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter would not be drawn on the availability of goalkeeper Matt Turner ahead of his side’s crucial last Copa America group game against Uruguay on Monday.
Turner had to be replaced at half-time of Thursday’s 2-1 defeat by Panama, after a heavy challenge from Cesar Blackman saw him treated on the pitch for a leg injury.
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Berhalter said the 30-year-old, who played on until the break during which time Blackman equalised, has been able to take part in some aspects of the team’s preparations for Monday’s game in Kansas City, but would not say if he had done enough to prove his full fitness.
“Matt did limited training yesterday and then limited training again today,” said Berhalter. “We will continue to monitor him to see his status.”
If Turner is unable to play Berhalter can turn to Cardiff City’s Ethan Horvath, who replaced him for the second half at the Mercedez-Benz Stadium, or Toronto FC’s Sean Johnson.
The USMNT will also be without midfielder Tim Weah, who is suspended for two games after he was dismissed for striking Panama’s Roderick Miller in the first half, and Berhalter said the Juventus man will not be easy to replace.
���Timmy gives us a verticality and assists,” he added. “He is dangerous in front of goal and defensively does a really good job so he is difficult to replace.
“But for us we have a game plan that we want to execute and will put players on the field we know can do that. Part of it is going to be that they need to pass and mover to continue to open up space that will be available and it will be really important we do that.”
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(Photo: Eduardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images)
