Jozy Altidore Ankle Injury To Hurt Bob Bradley’s Search For Strike Partner
Jozy Altidore suffered a sprained ankle Thursday in United States' World Cup training and is listed as day-to-day, making him a doubt for Saturday's friendly against Australia, the national team's final friendly before they open the World Cup against England on June 12
Altidore was taken for X-rays at a local hospital, with the results coming back negative. The injury was eventually described as mild, with a day-to-day status assigned to the United States’ striker.
It is unclear whether Altidore will be able to play on Saturday, and if he does, to what extent. His participation in the Australia friendly is vital to determining who could serve as Altidore's partner at the top of the United States' 4-4-2 formation. Still trying to fill a void along side Altidore, the United States is looking at Clint Dempsey and Robbie Findley in the supporting role, with Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle rounding-out the forward options.
Saturday is going to be Bob Bradley’s final chance to get a look at those options in under match conditions. If Altidore can’t go or is inhibited by his ankle, Bradley will go into the England match carrying the same questions that have kept him from settling on a partner for Jozy.
Against Turkey on Saturday, Clint Dempsey started, with Benny Feilhaber assuming the Fulham winger's role to the left of midfield. After a poor first half from the United States, Bradley made four substitutions, including bringing Robbie Findley on for Feilhaber, moving Dempsey back to the wing while Findley assumed the support role. In that formation, both Altidore and Dempsey had second half goals, with Findley putting in his most impressive performance as an international.
The United States plays Australia on Saturday, a 8:30 a.m. Eastern kickoff in Johannesburg, South Africa.
