USA, Sunderland midfielder Gooch (ankle) could miss three months
U.S. men's national team and Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch could miss up to three months after suffering ligament damage to his ankle.
Sunderland manager David Moyes confirmed the bad news, adding that he may need surgery to correct the injury, which was suffered while playing for Sunderland's U-23s this week.
“Unfortunately, Lynden Gooch was stretchered off in the reserve game against Tottenham in midweek,” Moyes said, according to The Chronicle. "It looks like damage to one of his ankle ligaments. He’s away to see the specialist today, and then we will find out whether or not he will need an operation. But he will probably be out for somewhere between eight and 12 weeks, depending on exactly what the surgeon says.
“It’s a terrible blow for Lynden. We really like him, he’s infectious, and he’s a good character. I spoke to him a few weeks ago and said I thought his levels had just dipped a little, but that would be normal for a young player when you think of the games we asked him to play in and the position the team had been in. But in the last week or so he had started to look fresher in training and the injury is a real blow for him, and for us.”
Gutted to have ankle ligament damage but I'll be back stronger and better than before, thanks for all the messages over the past few days?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/2FAJrqhQQK
— Lynden Gooch (@lyndengooch46) December 2, 2016
Gooch, 20, has played in nine league matches for Sunderland this season, making four starts.
He has two caps with the USA and was cap-tied to the U.S. after appearing in the 4-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Costa Rica. He was eligible to play for England and Ireland prior to that appearance.
The injury timetable puts his participation in the USA's March World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama in jeopardy.