Americans Abroad

Reyna is injured in Manchester City training session, could miss U.S. qualifiers.

Claudio Reyna's participation in the next two United States World Cup quailiers is now questionable after he injured himself with Manchester City. -- Manchester City web site photo --

By Gary Davidson (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

MANCHESTER, England (Friday, September 24, 2004) -- United States captain and midfielder Claudio Reyna could miss the next two American World Cup qualifiers after suffering an injury with his club, Manchester City of England's Premier League.

The U.S. is halfway through the semifinal CONCACAF qualifying round robin, leading the four-nation Group 1 with a 1-0-2 record with five points. The Americans play in El Salvador October 9, then travel to Washington D.C. for an October 13 match against Panama at RFK Stadium. The round ends on home soil with a match against Jamaica November 17 at Columbus (Ohio) Crew Stadium.

City manager Kevin Keegan would not say what Reyna's injury was, but said he picked up a knock in Manchester's 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace Saturday, then aggravated it in training Tuesday. Reyna did not dress for Wednesday's 7-1 rout of Barnsley in the first round of the Carling Cup.

The top two teams from Group 1 advance to the final round. Two victories, or a victory and two draws would secure U.S. advancement, while a victory and one draw would probably do the job.

A U.S. Soccer Federation official, who asked not be identified, said he believed Reyna had strained a muscle in his leg, but hoped the veteran would be ready to go October 9. "We just don't know enough at this point," he said. "It puts his availability in question."

Reyna will miss City's big home match Saturday with EPL-leading Arsenal which is unbeaten in its last 46 league matches. Keegan pointed to an October 16 home game against second-place Chelsea for Reyna's return.

The Blues are a little thin at midfield with injuries to Trevor Sinclair and Steve McManaman. "Steve McManaman, Claudio Reyna and David Sommeil will all be fit for the game after Southampton," Keegan said on his club's web site. "And Steve could be fit for Southampton (on October 2)."

Reyna is considered the most integral player on the U.S. team, but the Americans are used to playing without him. Always injury-prone, Reyna tore an anterior cruciate ligament and played in only five of 15 national-team matches in 2003.

In the first three matches of the semifinal qualifying round, Reyna has played every minute.

Gary Davidson is a SoccerTimes managing editor. E-mail Gary Davidson.