Untied States forward Ricardo Pepi has sustained a knee injury that could keep him sidelined for as long as three months, a source briefed on the situation confirmed to The Athletic on Thursday.
Pepi started for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch club’s 3-2 victory over a weakened Liverpool side on the final matchday of the Champions League’s initial stage on Wednesday, scoring the winner as the team progressed to the playoff round.
However, he was substituted in the 76th minute to undergo treatment after sustaining the injury, which does not appear to be an ACL tear but may result in a prolonged absence according to the source, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.
Dutch newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad was first to report the news and said medical examinations had revealed Pepi would need to miss a “considerable part of the rest of the season.”
Despite being mostly used as a sub, Pepi has had an impact for PSV. (John Thys / AFP via Getty Images)
Pepi’s form for PSV attracted links to various clubs and resulted in a $25 million bid from West Ham during the January transfer window. However, despite him typically coming off the bench – club favorite Luuk De Jong is the incumbent starter – indications are PSV director of football Earnie Stewart rates him highly and sees value in keeping him at the club.
On the national team front, these are crucial times, with the USMNT ramping up its World Cup preparations under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinean has been given some cause for concern on the injury front, with forward Folarin Balogun out until April with a shoulder complaint and Christian Pulisic having sustained a number of small injuries.
Pepi, who started his pro career in MLS with FC Dallas, scored twice in the two-legged quarterfinal of the Concacaf Nations League towards the end of last year and has made it clear he hopes to lead the USMNT line at the World Cup.
For now, however, he seems destined to be sidelined for PSV’s home-and-away playoff round matchup, and in doubt for the Nations League semifinal (and possibly final) in Los Angeles toward the back end of March.
(Top photo: Nicolas Tucat / AFP via Getty Images)
