Team USA will have its hands full Tuesday when it faces Belgium in the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Having Jozy Altidore around should help.
U.S. Soccer announced Monday that Altidore will be available for the game after warming up with the team during its training session in Salvador, Brazil, earlier in the day.
Altidore was forced to sit out the USA’s final two group-stage games against Portugal and Germany after suffering a hamstring injury in the first half of his team’s 2-1 win over Ghana in its World Cup opener.
The 24-year-old striker appears to have made progress over the last several days, however, and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann told reporters Friday that he was “very optimistic” about Altidore’s chances of playing against Belgium.
Altidore’s availability does not necessarily mean he is at full strength, though, as the forward’s conditioning level reportedly is still in question.
Nonetheless, watching Altidore take the field at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Salvador definitely should be a comforting sight for American teammates and fans alike.
Photo via Twitter/@SportsCenter
