Duo Scratched on Saturday

Robinson and Balogun Each Miss Their Matches Over the Weekend With Injuries

Two key U.S. Men's National Team players, Antonee Robinson and Folarin Balogun, were unavailable for their respective clubs over the weekend due to injury concerns. This could raise questions about their fitness ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

On Saturday, Fulham's Robinson was unexpectedly absent from the squad for their Premier League clash against Everton at Craven Cottage. The dependable left-back, who has been a consistent presence in Marco Silva's lineup throughout the season, was not even named among the substitutes for the home fixture. 

Robinson's absence was described as being for "undisclosed reasons," with no explanation provided by the club for why the 26-year-old defender wasn't available. His omission forced Ryan Sessegnon to fill in at left back, a significant adjustment to Fulham's backline structure. The timing of Robinson's absence is particularly unfortunate, with only two matches remaining in the Premier League campaign.

Without their first-choice left-back, Fulham struggled defensively, particularly in the second half. Despite taking the lead through Raúl Jiménez and dominating the first 45 minutes, the Cottagers conceded three times after the interval, including two goals in a devastating three-minute spell, as Everton secured all three points in a 3-1 victory at Craven Cottage.

Meanwhile, AS Monaco striker Balogun endured another frustrating setback in an injury-disrupted season. The 23-year-old forward, who had only recently returned from a prolonged absence due to a dislocated shoulder, suffered an ankle injury during the final training session ahead of Monaco's crucial match against Lyon on Saturday.

In his post-match press conference, Monaco manager Adi Hütter provided some reassuring news regarding Balogun's condition, stating: "It isn't too serious. " He added that the American striker would be evaluated when the team returns to training on Wednesday after a three-day break. With Champions League qualification secured following their 2-0 victory over Lyon, Hütter indicated he would take no risks with Balogun for Monaco's final fixture against RC Lens.

The timing of these injuries to key USMNT players will certainly concern national team coach Mauricio Pochettino. With frienlies and the Gold Cup on the horizon, the recovery timeline for both players will be closely monitored by fans and coaching staff alike.