Ricardo Pepi expected to miss remainder of PSV season

Ricardo Pepi’s club season is all but over.

Pepi is expected to miss the remainder of PSV’s season after undergoing knee surgery, PSV announced Friday. The U.S. men’s national team forward suffered a serious injury against Liverpool in UEFA Champions League play last January.

Despite scoring the eventual winning goal in the match, Pepi was substituted off before the final whistle, which marked his last appearance. PSV manager Peter Bosz isn’t expecting to have Pepi back in his squad this season.

“We assume that Ricardo Pepi will be out for the rest of the season,” Bosz said Friday.

The Texas native excelled for PSV this season, tallying 18 goals in 25 combined appearances. He helped PSV to a current first place spot in the Eredivisie and a spot in the Champions League knockout stage.

Pepi’s impactful season also earned him a long-term contract extension with PSV until June 2030, the club announced earlier this week.

However, his absence will be a major one for PSV and the USMNT.

The USMNT returns to competitive action this March in the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four. Mauricio Pochettino is already down three of his leading striking options with Pepi joining Folarin Balogun and Haji Wright on the sidelines.

PSV will continue to look toward club legend Luuk De Jong at the No. 9 position this spring.