Hello again US soccer fandom!

Brace yourselves for a long injury list in this week’s newsletter as the undoubted major headline for USMNT players this week was injuries to key players. In MLS, Paul Arriola and Miles Robinson both left their respective team’s preseason scrimmages with injuries. Arriola has likely suffered damage to his ACL, but whether it’s a partial tear or a full one is unclear at the time of writing this (he’s set for further tests in the coming days).

In addition, Tyler Adams will miss his first ever chance at Champions League football due to a pulled calf suffered in training, according to the RB Leipzig manager.

Even the highly in-form Duane Holmes was only able to go 29 minutes before subbing off due to an apparent ankle problem.

Perhaps the most disappointing injury of the weekend, soon to be 20-year-old Timothy Weah has suffered another hamstring injury while playing in his first appearance since August.

With all that said, and still regarding injury related news, Christian Pulisic is nearing a return to training according to Chelsea. Plus, Paxton Pomykal is nearing his playing return after recovering from his off-season surgery.

With so much injury news swirling about, it seems less clear if we’ll have a full-strength USMNT in late March when Gregg Berhalter & Co. take on the Netherlands and Wales. Luckily, these are friendlies and the 2022 World Cup qualifying doesn’t begin until September.

As always, please feel free to email us at hello@onegoal.us to let us know what you think of our newsletter!

STAR OF THE WEEK

Lynden Gooch (24, Santa Cruz, CA) - AFC Sunderland, League One

In what was a sluggish week for American soccer, Lynden Gooch continued his strong form on the wing for League One side Sunderland. In Tuesday’s match against fellow League One side Rochdale, Gooch started on the left-wing and scored two goals en route to a 3-0 victory for Sunderland. According to Whoscored, Gooch recorded the highest grade in the match with an 8.5 rating before being subbed out in the 78th minute. The two goals give Gooch 9 for the season, just one off of the team lead.

In Saturday’s match against Oxford, Gooch started again for Sunderland but did not accumulate any scoresheet stats in their 1-0 victory. Earlier this month, Gooch was also awarded The Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month for January after curling home a sensational left-footed strike against MK Dons to give Sunderland the 1-0 victory. While Gooch is still on the outside looking in for the USMNT, his play is at least worth monitoring, especially if Sunderland can win promotion to the Championship this year.

Here’s a look at his Goal of the Month: