Altidore cleared to practice after hamstring OK

03 September 2013 14:16

Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore has been cleared to resume workouts for the United States after an evaluation of his right hamstring by team medical staff, the US Soccer Federation said Tuesday.

US coach Jurgen Klinsmann is optimistic that Altidore, who has scored in his past five matches with the national team, will be available when the Americans visit Costa Rica on Friday for a 2014 World Cup qualifying match.

Altidore, who sat out last weekend's English Premier League match for Sunderland, had an MRI exam on his hamstring that came back normal.

The Americans are on a 12-match win streak that began June 2 in Washington with a 4-3 victory over Germany, Klinsmann's former team as coach and player, and included three World Cup qualifiers and a Gold Cup tournament crown.

But the US squad has never won a qualifying match against the Ticos in Costa Rica.

Doing so Friday would be a tremendous step toward clinching a berth in next year's global football showdown in Brazil, especially with a home qualifier against arch-rival Mexico set for next Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.

The United States leads the North American (CONCACAF) World Cup qualifying table with 13 points from six matches and could clinch a trip to Brazil on Friday with a victory plus a Mexico-Honduras draw and Jamaica winning or drawing with Panama.

Source: AFP