‘I Know I Can Score’: Josh Sargent Hopes to Translate Hot Start in EFL Championship to USMNT
Sargent has scored six goals through all competitions early this season
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Josh Sargent has started the new EFL Championship season with a bang, scoring a goal in every appearance for Norwich City through six games. Most recently, the striker bagged a brace to lift the Canaries to their second league win to take his tally to five EFL Championship goals and six in five matches across all competitions. Sargent has tallied double-digit goals for Norwich each of the previous three campaigns.
Now, Sargent aims to continue that scoring tear with the U.S. Men’s National Team. If he scores in this camp against Korea Republic (Sept. 6; Harrison, N.J.) or Japan (Sept. 9; Columbus, Ohio), it would be his first international goal since 2019.
“I’d probably be lying if I said I didn’t think about it,” Sargent said. “Of course, I know it’s been a while. I’m doing so well at the club level at the moment. I just keep reminding myself how well I’m doing there. I know I can score goals, and I know it’s a matter of time that I’m going to score for the National Team.”
While scoring in a National Team shirt is top of mind, it’s not something he or the rest of the team is concerned with. Veteran defender Tim Ream — who watched Sargent come up through the same program as a fellow St. Louis native — said he has full confidence in the forward.
“I don’t think anybody really worries about it, to be completely honest with you,” Ream said. “I’ve known that the guy can score goals since he was 15-16 years old. Following his path and his career so far, it’s not something that we’re worried about. You look at what he’s doing at Norwich, and the types of goals that he scored and they’re all different.”
This season Sargent has scored off a corner kick, alertly took advantage of a goalkeeper mistake, and a right-footed strike outside the box — just to name a few. Previously with the U.S., Sargent has notched five goals in 28 appearances. The striker also led the line for the U.S. in two of three group stage matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino called in three strikers for the September friendlies. Sargent, Damion Downs — who played in the Concacaf Gold Cup Final run — and Folarin Balogun.
Sargent last played for Pochettino in the Concacaf Nations League in March, appearing in the 1-0 semifinal defeat to Panama. This summer, Sargent didn’t receive the call-up, but he took it as motivation to get another chance.
“I took it as rest-up during the offseason and hit the ground running with Norwich to make sure that I’m back into the next camp,” Sargent said. “I’ve done a very good job of that at the club level, and I think that’s why I’m here.”