With a goal and an assist in his first two games, Josh Sargent has hit the ground running for Werder Bremen's U-23s. - © © imago / ZUMA Press
With a goal and an assist in his first two games, Josh Sargent has hit the ground running for Werder Bremen's U-23s. - © © imago / ZUMA Press

Josh Sargent scores first goal for Werder Bremen U-23s

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Josh Sargent's fledging career at Werder Bremen continues to head in the right direction after the 17-year-old scored his first goal for the club at the weekend.

The USA Young Soccer Player of the Year came on at half-time of the U-23 side's friendly against VfB Oldenburg on Sunday and found the net within three minutes to put his team 2-0 up, finishing on the rebound from close range. Bremen went on to win the game 2-1 in their final warm-up fixture before the third division season gets underway again on 21 January.

"It was a great feeling getting my first goal at the club," Sargent said afterwards. "I just feel an immense sense of pride."

"He moves well, controls the ball well and has a real feeling for what it's about to be a striker," said Werder Bremen head coach Florian Kohfeldt of his new US charge.

"I want to see him training with us to give him the feeling that this is the path he should follow at Werder. "I don't want to talk him down - Josh is an absolutely outstanding talent, who we managed to sign despite plenty of interest. Now we want to build him up carefully."

Sargent, who will sign professional terms at the club when he turns 18 on 20 February, provided an assist on his debut for the U-23s last week, teeing up Niklas Schmidt to score a late consolation in a 2-1 defeat to Dynamo Dresden.

Indeed, so impressive has the Missouri-born forward been that Kohfeldt has brought Sargent to train with the senior pros this week as the club looks to continue his development.

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