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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Dest shares target return date from ACL tear</li><li>Defender "excited" for reported Pochettino hire</li><li>23-year-old out for calendar year</li></ul>

USMNT defender Sergino Dest sets target return date from ACL injury, shares thoughts on Mauricio Pochettino

CONCACAF Nations League

Jamaica

Eredivisie

PSV Eindhoven

FC Groningen

On April 20, Sergino Dest suffered an ACL tear while partaking in a training session with PSV. The injury ruled him out of Copa America 2024, and sidelined him for the remainder of the calendar year.The U.S. international is in recovery, and has now set a target date for a return to the Dutch club, while also delivering a unique and insightful perspective on the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/mauricio-pochettino-usmnt-head-coach/bltb80c077b540a0842" target="_self">reported hire of ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino as manager of the USMNT.</a>

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking to <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40955650/sergino-dest-excited-mauricio-pochettino-usmnt-coach" target="_self">ESPN,</a> the 23-year-old fullback shared that he's targeting a return to competition in January 2025."I set in my mind end of January, but I have to see how it goes, step by step," Dest said. "So if it goes worse or whatever, for any reason, I have to wait. The thing that I have to make sure is that my knee is perfect and then I can play. So if I need a little bit longer, I will take it because this is a really big injury."He last featured on the international stage with the U.S. in their March camp, as the USMNT <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-player-ratings-mexico-gio-reyna-tyler-adams/blt6e0fbcbecae05de6" target="_self">defeated Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final</a> under then-manager Gregg Berhalter. After missing out on Copa America over the summer, Dest is hoping to still be present in camps come this fall as the new regime gets into motion."I haven't been with the team in the last camp because obviously I'm injured so I have nothing to do there, but I will go probably in the near future, in October camp or November," he said. "I try to be with the team and will ask them to stay there with the chemistry and everything, to support them."Like fellow internationals <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-fulham-star-antonee-robinson-mauricio-pochettino/bltf59464090df573c3" target="_self">Antonee Robinson</a> and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-yunus-musah-mauricio-pochettino/bltb3cdf4d7020f9a76" target="_self">Yunus Musah,</a> Dest is excited by the expected appointment of Pochettino.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

"Yeah, it is [exciting]," Dest said of the possibility of playing under Pochettino. "Obviously, he's been a coach for big clubs and he's a well-known coach. That will be a nice experience to train under him."That's exciting. We'll see and hopefully it can help all of us ... to have a really great result at the 2026 World Cup, you know? Because we are the home country. We need to take it step by step because he is not there yet."

WHAT DEST SAID ABOUT POCHETTINO

The U.S. have a series of international friendlies to play in September, with matches against New Zealand and Canada. U20 manager <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/mikey-varas-will-coach-usmnt-september-friendlies-mauricio-pochettino/blte1ab59a60ae220f1" target="_self">Mikey Varas is reported to be the individual on the touchline for them both</a>, even if Pochettino is officially hired.

WHAT NEXT?

USMNT defender Sergino Dest sets target return date from ACL injury, shares thoughts on Mauricio Pochettino | Goal.com Cameroon

Sergino Dest has shared he hopes to find himself back on the pitch come the new year, while mentioning &quot;excitement&quot; about the future of the USMNT.