USMNT boost! Record-breaking Josh Sargent back to ‘normal’ after ‘proper treatment’ on injury issues at Norwich

The 24-year-old forward sat out four months of action early in the 2023-24 campaign after being forced to undergo ankle surgery. He suffered another fitness setback during the March international break that prevented him from linking up with his country and savouring CONCACAF Nations League glory.

That enforced rest did, however, work in Sargent’s favour as he was able to work his way back to peak physical condition. He has been in stunning form for club side Norwich of late, hitting a personal-best 14 goals for the season, and will be looking to net in a 10th successive home game when taking in a derby date with arch-rivals Ipswich on Saturday.

Ahead of that contest, Canaries boss David Wagner has said when delivering an update on Sargent’s fitness: “Two full 90s in four days is a big step for him. He hasn't done this in recent months, to be fair, without any issues. Last week he was able to follow the full regime without any issues. Physically you will get fatigued as a player, but he recovered well and now we’d like to push him for the next game.

"Hopefully our season continues quite long; for the maximum it can be. And for this obviously his fitness will be crucial. To be fair in this (last) international break, we were not really able to work him. He had to rest and recover his ankle. But obviously it was possible to give him proper treatment. That was beneficial for his ankle because it looks like now is able to tolerate the normal workload and the normal routine, which he was not able to tolerate in recent months.”

While Norwich are hoping to see Sargent fire them into the Championship play-offs, earning a shot at promotion to the Premier League along the way, the USMNT will be pleased to hear that the in-form frontman is in top shape heading towards a Copa America tournament on home soil this summer.