Frankie Hejduk to miss World Cup qualifier at Costa Rica

Hejduk out for Americans

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — U.S. defender Frankie Hejduk is out for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier at Costa Rica with a groin injury.

American coach Bob Bradley said Monday that Hejduk was not fit enough for the match in San Jose. The Americans enter the game with seven points in their qualifying group, one more than second-place Costa Rica. The top three teams at the end of the round-robin CONCACAF finals qualify for the World Cup field.

Bradley said Jozy Altidore, the 19-year-old forward who scored three times against Trinidad and Tobago in the last qualifying game, was fit enough to play. He is coming back from toe surgery in April.

“We’re evaluating over the next few days to see what that means for the Confederations Cup and for Saturday (vs. Honduras),” Bradley said.

The Americans play Honduras in another qualifier on Saturday in Chicago, and then travel to South Africa for the eight-team Confederations Cup, a logistical warm-up for next year’s World Cup. The Americans are in a group with defending world champion Italy, five-time world champion Brazil and Egypt.

Hejduk, a 34-year-old defender, has enjoyed success after taking over for injured starter Steve Cherundolo at the start of the year. Hejduk had started all three of the Americans’ qualifiers in the six-team group.

West Ham’s Jonathan Spector and Toronto FC’s Marvell Wynne are the top candidates to fill in at right back.

Bradley did not suggest Altidore would start, but said he could be available.

“Jozy has been in training over these last few days,” Bradley said. “Obviously, he has not played a competitive game in a while, but I think he’s done a good job.”

The U.S. team also left behind midfielder Maurice Edu, who injured a knee May 24 in Glasgow Rangers’ final league game of the season.