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Christian Pulisic remains the biggest name in the United States squad, but the team might have to cope without him when they face Australia on Friday in their World Cup Group D encounter.

The match is scheduled to kick off at noon local time (8pm UK time) at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Both the United States and Australia head into this fixture looking to build on their positive starts, having defeated Paraguay and Turkiye respectively in their opening games.

Pulisic, who played a crucial role in the USA’s 4-1 victory over Paraguay, set up Folarin Balogun’s opening goal before being substituted at half-time. His performance during the first 45 minutes was highly influential in helping the Americans take control of the match.

However, the forward has since trained alone, with his right calf wrapped, raising concerns about his fitness ahead of the upcoming clash. During Wednesday’s training session, the AC Milan star was spotted working separately from his teammates, accompanied by members of the U.S. medical staff.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed cautious optimism on Thursday when asked about Pulisic’s chances of featuring against the Socceroos. “He’s evolving. He’s much better from Friday. We will see. If he is not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game [against Turkiye next Friday],” the coach explained.

Pochettino added: “When this type of thing happens, it’s always painful. Christian is strong and has a great mentality. He’s making a fantastic effort to be ready as soon as possible.”

Pulisic, who hails from Pennsylvania, has made 87 international appearances for the United States and has scored 33 goals in his national team career. His presence has been vital for the U.S. attack, and the team will be hoping for his swift recovery as they continue their World Cup campaign.