USMNT Stars Return from Injury Just in Time to Fuel Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal Push

The U.S. men's national team is set to welcome back another forward option ahead of next month's competitive fixtures, as Ricardo Pepi continues to close in on a full recovery from the muscular injury he sustained last month.

Pepi went down clutching his leg in visible discomfort just eight minutes into PSV Eindhoven's Eredivisie encounter against FC Twente on Sept. 20. While he managed to limp off the field under his own power and later described the setback as "just a minor setback," he was ultimately deemed unfit to join the USMNT's September-October international camp and was replaced on the squad by forward Damion Downs.

Following roughly a month on the shelf—during which he missed four USMNT friendlies and four club matches, including a pair of Champions League outings—Pepi is now close to being fully fit. PSV head coach Peter Bosz indicated he could potentially feature as early as Sunday in the Dutch top-flight clash against Feyenoord.

His return timeline lines up well with the USMNT's November international camp, which begins Nov. 9 and wraps up with the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal matchup against Haiti. The opening leg is scheduled for Nov. 14 in Kingston, Jamaica, with the return leg set for Nov. 17 in Cincinnati.

If Pepi earns a call-up, it will represent a crucial chance for the 23-year-old to reassert his place in the team's attacking hierarchy.

When he was originally named to the September-October squad, he stood as the sole 2026 World Cup-era forward selected by manager Mauricio Pochettino, suggesting he would have likely led the line in most of the four matches. His sudden withdrawal, however, opened the door for teenage talents Julian Hall and Justin Ellis to make compelling cases for starting roles. The duo combined for five goals, leaving Pepi—who hasn't found the net for the USMNT since 2024—facing a real battle to reclaim his spot.

Patrick Agyemang, Haji Wright With Long-Term Injuries

While Pochettino has bolstered his attacking options with Hall and Ellis, he will undoubtedly welcome Pepi's return, particularly given the lengthy injury absences affecting several other strikers in his player pool.

Patrick Agyemang suffered a devastating Achilles tendon injury back in April, just weeks before Pochettino finalized his World Cup squad. Having featured in both of the USMNT's March friendlies, the Derby County forward had appeared on track to secure a tournament berth. Agyemang is reportedly "on course" to return to action in November, though not until "after the international break," per Derby boss John Eustace.

"It's important we don't rush him back," Eustace told reporters last week. "Just having him training with us at the moment is brilliant. He is with the rehab team, but he is hitting all the markers."

Haji Wright, who filled the role of the USMNT's third-choice striker over the summer, is also not anticipated to return to the pitch until next month, after sustaining a "very serious" quad injury during preseason preparations with Premier League club Coventry City.

"Haji won't be back until November at best and I don't want to put pressure on it because it's an awkward injury," club manager Frank Lampard told reporters earlier this month, effectively ruling him out of the upcoming international window.

While Pochettino will be without both Agyemang and Wright, he has been boosted by the return of World Cup standout Folarin Balogun. Following the tournament, the 25-year-old had been managing "a small issue in one of his legs," as Pochettino described it; however, the striker has since returned to action for club side Monaco, coming off the bench in each of the last three Ligue 1 fixtures. Whether he will be fully sharp by November, though, is still an open question.

Available USMNT Strikers for November Camp

*Includes players that have been rostered in the last 12 months.