US national team winger Josh Gatt has been ruled out of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a knee injury, U.S. Soccer announced on Saturday. Gatt will be replaced on Jurgen Klinsmann's roster by Brek Shea (above).
Gatt suffered the injury on June 29 while playing for his club team, Molde, in the Norwegian First Division. He remained in Norway to undergo an MRI this past week. According to U.S. Soccer, further information on his injury will come from Molde.
This marks the second time in the past 10 months Gatt has been forced out of a US national team camp at the last minute due to an injury. A hamstring injury sidelined the Michigan native last September after he was called up for a pair of World Cup qualifiers vs. Jamaica.
"It's a very unfortunate situation for Josh," Klinsmann said in a statement. "This is now a couple of times that he has been injured after receiving a call-up to the national team, and it must be frustrating and disappointing. He has been making great progress and we were really looking forward to the opportunity to see him in action. We wish him all the best."
COMPLETE CONCACAF GOLD CUP COVERAGE
Former FC Dallas man Shea has been training with the USMNT since July 1 during their time in San Diego, and was a second-half sub in the 6-0 friendly victory over Guatemala on Friday. Per Gold Cup tournament rules, an injured player may be replaced on the roster up to 24 hours prior to a team's first match in the group phase.
The US open their Gold Cup on Tuesday against Belize in Portland (11 pm ET, Fox Soccer).
D.C. United attacker Chris Pontius has been added to the pool of 12 players still eligible to be chosen for any additional changes to the 23-player roster. In addition to a change for injury, teams are allowed to make up to four changes to the roster in the 24 hours following their final group match.
