Tolkin's Minor Setback

The Defender Suffered Injury in Training After Recording First Bundesliga Assist

John Tolkin's promising start at Holstein Kiel has hit a temporary setback due to a thigh injury sustained during training. The 22-year-old American left-back, who joined the German club from New York Red Bulls in a $3 million transfer last month, will miss Sunday's crucial match against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Before this injury, Tolkin had been making significant strides in the Bundesliga. His most notable contribution came in a 2-2 draw against Bochum, where he recorded his first assist for the club. Taking a long free kick just after halftime with his team trailing 2-1, Tolkin delivered a precise ball that found center back David Zec, who headed home the equalizer to secure a valuable point for Holstein Kiel.

The former Red Bulls defender has quickly adapted to German football, earning starts in his team's previous two matches. This included a challenging baptism by fire against Bayern Munich. Still, he showed his resilience and followed it up with an impressive performance against Bochum, providing the assist and making seven defensive clearances.

The timing of this injury could be particularly unfortunate, as it might affect Tolkin's availability for the upcoming USMNT Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Panama on March 20. Keil head coach Marcel Rapp has remained vague about the injury's severity, only stating that "such things are never good" while expressing confidence in his squad's depth.

The stakes are high for Holstein Kiel, who are currently in a precarious position in the Bundesliga table. They are just one point away from the promotion-relegation playoff spot and five points from safety, making Tolkin's swift recovery all the more crucial for their survival hopes.

McKenzie May Miss the Weekend Match

Defender Subbed Out at Halftime Last Weekend and In Doubt for This Weekend

Mark McKenzie is doubtful to feature in Toulouse's upcoming high-profile match against Paris Saint-Germain after suffering an adductor injury in the club's 2-2 draw with Auxerre. The center back, who has been a consistent presence in Toulouse's defense this season, was forced to exit the game at halftime due to the injury.

The setback is unfortunate for McKenzie, who had been enjoying an impressive first season in French football. Before this injury, the 25-year-old had started 18 of Toulouse's 20 league matches since his summer transfer from Genk, establishing himself as a key figure in the team's backline. His recent form has been particularly noteworthy. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against Nice, which earned him a spot in L'Equipe's team of the week.

According to the latest training ground reports, McKenzie was limited to individual training on Thursday, working separately from the main group as he deals with the adductor problem. His status for Saturday's match against PSG remains uncertain, adding to Toulouse's defensive concerns as they prepare to face one of France's most potent attacking forces.

The timing is particularly challenging for Toulouse, who are already dealing with several injury issues across their squad. McKenzie's potential absence would be significant, as he has been one of the team's most reliable defenders this season, ranking fourth in total league minutes played. Should he be unavailable for the PSG match, it would mark a notable setback for both the player and the team, especially given his strong adaptation to French football since his arrival.

Haji Back in Training

Striker is "a Couple of Weeks Away."

Haji Wright is finally making progress in his recovery from a lengthy ankle ligament injury that has kept him sidelined since November. The Coventry City forward, who last featured against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, has begun his gradual return to training activities at the club's Ryton facility.

After being limited to cardio work and individual training for several months, Wright has now taken his first steps back onto the grass, participating in portions of team training sessions. However, Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has urged fans to temper their expectations despite photos emerging of Wright's return to outdoor work.

"Don't get too excited, everybody," Lampard cautioned when discussing Wright's recovery. "He's back on the pitch with us, taking part in training and coming out of parts of training to get fitness, but he's been out a relatively long time now."

The striker's rehabilitation program currently involves warm-ups, small possession drills, and box exercises, with the training staff carefully managing his workload. Lampard estimates it will take another two to three weeks before Wright can be considered for selection, emphasizing the importance of ensuring he returns "right and ready and firing."

Wright's return will be a significant boost for Coventry City. Before his injury in November, he had scored seven goals. His absence has spanned nearly the entire tenure of Lampard, who took over as manager in December. The injury also forced Wright to miss out on U.S. Men's National Team duty during this period.

Wright's rehabilitation is being carefully managed, reflecting the club's determination to avoid setbacks. Lampard and his staff, including fitness coach Chris, are closely monitoring his progress as they work toward making him match-ready.

U17 in Control in Group F

World Cup Qualifying Started with a Record Win Before Victory in the Second Match

The U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team has spectacularly started their World Cup qualifying campaign, breaking records in their opening matches. The tournament began with a historic 22-0 victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands, setting a new record for the largest margin of victory in any U.S. World Cup qualifier across all age groups and genders. Forward Chase Adams stole the show with an unprecedented 10-goal performance, the most goals ever scored by a U.S. player in a World Cup qualifying match. Captain Maximo Carrizo added four goals, while Chance Cowell and Jude Terry each contributed braces in the dominant display.

The team maintained momentum in their second match, defeating St. Kitts and Nevis 7-0 with a primarily rotated squad. Head coach Gonzalo Segares made nine changes to the starting lineup, demonstrating the squad's depth. New York Red Bulls forward Tanner Rosborough led the attack with four goals, while Axel Uriostegui, Cristiano Oliveira, and Enrique Martinez also found the back of the net. Despite facing a more defensive-minded opponent who sat in a low block, the U.S. controlled 76% of possession and outshot their opponents 42-4.

The final group match against Cuba on Saturday will determine who advances to Qatar's expanded 48-team FIFA U-17 World Cup. The U.S. currently sits atop Group F with six points and an impressive +29 goal differential, while Cuba holds second place after defeating the U.S. Virgin Islands 6-3. The Americans need only a draw to secure qualification, but they'll face their toughest test against a Cuban side that has also shown scoring prowess. With Cuba's +5 goal differential significantly behind the USA's +29, the Americans enter the match in a strong position to claim the group's sole World Cup spot.

McKennie's Rocket in the Champions League

Midfielder Unleashed a Rope to Open the Scoring in the Champions League

Weston McKennie continues to shine for Juventus, scoring a crucial goal in their 2-1 Champions League playoff victory against PSV Eindhoven. The USMNT midfielder broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a powerful strike into the top right corner from inside the penalty area, following a scrambled sequence. While McKennie modestly claimed his 2020 goal against Barcelona was better, his latest effort proved decisive in securing a European win.

The goal marks McKennie's third Champions League strike this season, all coming with his right foot and all in victories, including previous goals against Manchester City and PSV in the group stage. His seventh career Champions League goal puts him in elite company among CONCACAF players, trailing only Javier Hernández (14), Christian Pulisic (12), Dwight Yorke (11), and Jonathan David (9) in the competition's history.

Juventus head coach Thiago Motta has praised McKennie's versatility and team-first attitude. He highlighted the American's ability to excel in multiple positions. "Weston is special," Motta said. He has played fullback, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder, winger. He's a top-level player." This adaptability has made McKennie nearly indispensable to the team, with Motta admitting it's "difficult to put him on the bench."

The 26-year-old's excellent form is also paying off beyond the pitch. Last August, he signed an extension through 2026, but reports suggest Juventus plans to offer him a new deal to keep him at the club until 2028. With five goals in 28 appearances this season and increasingly influential performances, McKennie has established himself as a key figure in Juventus's pursuit of Champions League success.

Sargent Scored Again in the Championship

On This Day 2023, Forward Nets His 11th of the Season

Josh Sargent came into the 2022 World Cup in solid goal-scoring form. He scored nine EFL Championship goals and earned a selection to Qatar. He played in all three group-stage matches but failed to make an impact at the tournament and was injured in the 1-0 victory over Iran.

When he returned Norwich City, he was thrust back into the first team action, but struggled to regain that form from earlier in the season. He finally found the net in the 4-2 win over Coventry City to close out January. The Canaries would be held goalless over their next two matches before a February 14 clash with Hull City.

A late-game flourish helped Norwich City end their home struggles emphatically, as the American striker netted his 11th goal of the Championship campaign in the 3-1 victory over Hull City at Carrow Road.

The 22-year-old forward, who hadn't found back of the next in little under a month, picked the perfect moment to rediscover his scoring touch. With Norwich already leading 2-1 in the 89th minute, Sargent combined with Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara before slotting a precise right-footed finish inside the far post, beyond Hull goalkeeper Matt Ingram's reach.

It was a fitting end to an active night for Sargent, who had seen both a deflected shot and a header sail over the crossbar. The U.S. international remained persistent throughout, registering three shots on target while contributing to the defensive effort with four ball recoveries.

"From my point of view it was one of our best, maybe the best which we've seen," Norwich manager David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk after the match. "We've shown that we didn't get affected by being 1-0 down... and then obviously they scored three wonderful goals."

The victory, which snapped Norwich's six-game winless run at home in October, moved the Canaries to eighth in the table. For Sargent personally, the goal reinforced his position as Norwich's top scorer that season, having found the net 11 times in 29 league appearances.