"Josh Sargent can become a big part of the Werder Bremen team next season" - Frank Baumann
Werder Bremen have no plans to loan out Josh Sargent next season, with the northern club’s sporting director Frank Baumann instead tipping the USA striker to play "an even bigger role" with the first team.
Sargent, 19, made a goal-scoring Bundesliga debut against Fortuna Düsseldorf on 7 December 2018, but has started just one game and made a further eight substitute appearances since.
Baumann has assured the six-time USA international that recent selections are not a reflection of his form, however, and flatly rejected the possibility of him going on loan for more regular football.
"We’re not talking about sending Josh out on loan," Baumann told meinwerder.de. "He’s already surpassed the plan we had in mind for him by playing in the first team as much as he has since the winter break."
Watch: Josh Sargent started his Bundesliga adventure with a bang!
Sargent joined Bremen from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida in January 2018, but was only eligible to play for the Green-Whites' first team on turning 18 in February that year. He went on to score eight goals in 12 appearances for the reserves, before breaking into the senior side prior to the 2018/19 Bundesliga campaign’s winter break.
The American has accumulated 205 minutes of Bundesliga football to date - scoring in games against Düsseldorf and RB Leipzig - but Baumann says the teenaged talent won't be on the fringes of the first XI for much longer.
"Next season he can expect to play an even bigger role, that’s the logical step for him with us," the former Bremen player explained. "We have every faith he can become a big part of the team next year, if he performs well and he continues to develop as he has been."
Sargent, who signed a contract extension with Bremen in February, also has two goals to show for his six senior appearances with the USMNT, including a debut strike against Bolivia. It remains to be seen whether he makes the grade for US coach Gregg Berhalter’s 23-man roster for the 2019 Gold Cup, or if he’ll be representing the Stars and Stripes at this summer’s FIFA U20 World Cup instead
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