United States manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted Christian Pulisic and Antonee Robinson are among the players facing late fitness tests ahead of Friday’s friendly against Ecuador.
Pochettino is still trying to get the USMNT up to speed after Gold Cup final defeat to Mexico deflated the optimism built through a five-game winning streak, with September’s international break ending with a big victory over Japan.
Ecuador and Australia will be October’s opponents but Pochettino is yet to discover whether some of his most important players will be healthy enough to feature.
Ahead of Friday’s game against the former, Pochettino confirmed AC Milan star Pulisic missed the last team training session alongside Fulham left back Robinson and América winger Alejandro Zendejas.
“We need to assess tomorrow [if] they can be available or not,” Pochettino confessed.
Pulisic was in high spirits when he spoke to the media earlier in the day and did not mention any fitness concerns when he discussed the upcoming games.
“We want to kind of understand and know where our team is at and have a good feeling going forward as we get closer to the summer,” Pulisic reflected.
“I think we’re settling in well. Now it’s about building good performances one after the other. After last camp feeling good, now it’s a great opportunity.”
