AMSTERDAM – Hoffenheim left-sider Fabian Johnson is in doubt for Saturday's trip to Mainz 05 after suffering an ankle sprain during their weekend draw with Schalke.
The 25-year-old, who was pulled with 20 minutes left on Saturday, also has some bruising around the joint. The club expects him back before long, but it remains to be seen whether Johnson will be available to US national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann for the two CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers during the international break that directly follow the Mainz match, Oct. 11 and 15.
"It's a sprained ankle," a Hoffenheim spokeswoman told MLSsoccer.com. "He will miss some training and maybe the next game. It's not serious, he's lucky."
Johnson has appeared in eight matches for the US this year, including six of the team's eight World Cup qualifiers.
He has an assist in six games for 10th-place Hoffenheim this season.
