BREAKING: Pulisic out of United States’ World Cup clash with Australia | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic has been ruled out of the United States’ second World Cup group stage match against Australia, the Athletic has learned.

The 27-year-old played a starring role in his country’s rampant 4-1 victory over Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium, notching one assist and creating four chances before being withdrawn by Mauricio Pochettino in just the 46th minute.

The decision had sparked concern as to whether he would be fit again to feature against the Socceroos – a lingering calf issue has now ruled him out of contention and put his future at the tournament into doubt.

“Christian is not available. The evolution is really well,” Pochettino told Fox ahead of the game.

“Today, he was training in the morning in the camp and I’ve seen the feelings are good. I hope as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again and to be part of the team,” he added.

“Now, we need to be focussed on our team and the players that are going to play.

“We have ahead a very important game and Australia is going to be really tough. A little bit sad because he wanted to stay, wanted to participate today.”

Should the USMNT beat Australia, they will put themselves in a very strong position to secure progression to the round of 32 – making it out of the group stage for the third time running – and also finish winners of Group D.

But should the 27-year-old be ruled out of further matches, this would dent their bid to make it beyond the last 16 for the first time since 2002, when they made the quarter-finals in Japan.

Pulisic joins Neymar on the list of high-profile names currently injured, with the latter not yet having featured at the World Cup and confirmed to miss his team’s second group stage game against Haiti, kicking off at 01:30 (BST).

The United States’ meeting with Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle will kick off at 20:00 (BST), with live coverage available on BBC One and the BBC Sport website.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.