U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday that an MRI evaluation on Jozy Altidore’s troubled right hamstring has come back normal, and that the star striker has been cleared to resume workouts ahead of the team’s two upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.
Altidore sat out Sunderland’s match against Crystal Palace on Saturday with the hamstring injury, leaving some to wonder if he would be forced to miss a crucial road match against Costa Rica in San Jose on Friday (10 pm ET, beIN Sport) or even the US team’s showdown against Mexico next week in Columbus, Ohio.
But head coach Jurgen Klinsmann appears optimistic that Altidore will be available for selection on Friday, according to the USSF’s statement released on Tuesday.
Altidore has scored in five straight matches for the US, including notching a hat trick against Bosnia in a 4-3 road win in the team's last match.
The US are currently riding a 12-match winning streak that began on June 2 with a 4-3 victory against Germany. They've have won three straight Hex matches to move into sole control of first place with 13 points from six games, and can qualify for the World Cup if they beat Costa Rica, Mexico tie Honduras and Panama lose or draw against Jamaica.
The team is expected to travel from Miami to San Jose on Tuesday.
