IRVINE, Calif. — U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic worked separately from his teammates Wednesday, the third straight day he has done so because of his calf injury, increasing concerns about his availability to face Australia on Friday in the Americans’ second game of the World Cup.
Pulisic played a dynamic first half in his team’s 4-1 victory over Paraguay last week, but the 27-year-old Pennsylvania native came off at halftime after feeling stiffness from a calf injury incurred during practice. He hasn’t worked out with his teammates this week at their training base in Orange County, instead doing individual work largely in the gym.
Pulisic, who plays professionally for Italy’s AC Milan, didn’t work out on the grass at all Tuesday, but he took the field at Great Park on Wednesday with trainers and did ball drills. He tested out his left leg while wearing a compression sleeve on his calf during the 15 minutes of practice open to members of the media.
“We’re really hoping that Christian is going to be back for the game, of course,” said Brenden Aaronson, one of Pulisic’s potential replacements. “I don’t really know what’s going on in particular, but we know that he’s going to give us his all to get back to the team and be there for the game, so we’ll see. We’re really excited to see what the deal is.”
Pulisic is the most accomplished player on the U.S. roster and the linchpin of its offensive attack. His playmaking and ball skills down the left side led directly to Paraguay’s own-goal in the opening minutes last Friday, and he added an assist on Folarin Balogun’s first of two goals in the 24-year-old striker’s World Cup debut.