USMNT striker Josh Sargent first to arrive to Werder Bremen’s opening 2018/19 pre-season training session
Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent has shown just how ready he is to begin his professional career with the Bundesliga club after he was the first player to arrive to the club’s opening pre-season training session of the summer.
Sargent, 18, arrived in Bremen in January and spent the second half of the 2017/18 season playing friendlies with the U23 squad, with his 18th birthday – and therefore FIFA eligibility – only arriving in February.
The USA international was also handed his shirt number for the 2018/19 season, which will be #19.
Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt, who lifted the club from 17th to 11th after taking over from Alexander Nouri in October, stated his plans to use Sargent from the coming season onwards.
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“I have other priorities in the transfer market, and with Johannes Eggestein and Josh Sargent we have two forwards that are ready to kick on,” Kohfeldt said.
Sargent has been busy other the summer, though. The teenager made his international debut for the United States against Bolivia and scored his first USMNT goal in the same game. The 2017 US Young Player of the Year made a further two friendly appearances for the US, but has been unable to contain his excitement after receiving his eligibility for 2018/19.
“It’s been a little frustrating not being able to play, obviously, but I’m just looking forward to next season,” Sargent told bundesliga.com after the USA’s friendly defeat to Ireland last month.
Although unable to play, Sargent has spent a lot of time on the Bremen training ground with the first-team squad. Settling in to new surroundings was no problem for the Missouri-born striker, who says fellow striker Max Kruse has been a big help in making him comfortable.
“Max has been a great mentor while I’ve been there,” Sargent said. “I think they’ve all been a really good support system, helping with just guiding me through.
“Since I can’t play games they were all a really big help with that, just saying ‘wait ‘til next season’ and pushing me through. So it’s been a good experience so far.”
Werder Bremen begin their campaign by hosting Hannover, before travelling to Eintracht Frankfurt in their first away outing of the campaign the following week.