Werder Bremen and USA striker Josh Sargent: "I'm possibly in the form of my life!"
Josh Sargent says he has been using the disappointment of being left out of the USA's 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad as fuel to fire his first-team ambitions with Werder Bremen.
Sargent was a surprise omission from Gregg Berhalter's 23-man squad that went on to finish runners-up at the Gold Cup finals earlier this summer.
The 19-year-old admits it took time to digest the decision, but is now beginning to see the positives as he prepares to embark on his second season in the Bundesliga.
"It was disappointing at first not to be at the Gold Cup," Sargent told media on Sunday.
"I could have learned a lot there and needed a while to get my ahead around not being called up.
"Now I see the positives. I am able to take full part in Werder's pre-season preparations."
Sargent scored the winner as Werder beat Bundesliga rivals Cologne 1-0 in a friendly tournament on Sunday. The flame-haired forward bamboozled Jonas Hector, Rafael Czichos and Lasse Sobiech, before firing a supremely confident finish past Timo Horn.
As the old adage goes, it's all in the preparation.
"Josh is unbelievably clinical when he gets in the opposition box," commented Werder coach Florian Kohfeldt after the game.
"He's been working really hard and is in fantastic shape, which is great for him and us, but he's not without competition in attack."
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With Milot Rashica Bremen's first-choice forward, and the likes of Yuya Osako, Niclas Füllkrug, Johannes Eggestein and Claudio Pizarro vying for regular minutes as part of the Bremen forward line, Sargent's sparkling individual salvo against Cologne will have done his first-team chances the power of good.
The teenager already has two goals in 10 Bundesliga appearances to his name after debuting in the German top flight in December 2018, and is confident more opportunities will come his way in 2019/20 - as long as he continues to do the business in pre-season and on the training pitch.
"Obviously the starting line-up is my goal," Sargent explained.
"I'm happy with how things have been going and with my goal [against Cologne]. We've been working hard on things in training, and I'm possibly in the form of my life!
"It's only been a journey in Germany so far for me. Hopefully it can continue."
Watch: Josh Sargent scored 86 seconds into his Bundesliga debut - with his first touch!
Sargent could make his 11th competitive appearance for Werder when the Green-Whites kick-off their season against fifth-tier Atlas Delmenhorst in the DFB Cup first round on 10 August.
A potential American showdown with Zack Steffen and Alfredo Morales follows a week later when Werder host Fortuna Düsseldorf - against whom Sargent scored his first league goal - on the opening weekend of the 2019/20 Bundesliga campaign.
After the northern club finished eighth last season, just a point outside the European qualification spots, Sargent is determined to go one better next term.
"I want to help us at least qualify for the Europa League," he said.
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