Early Leeds United pre-season return for Brenden Aaronson forecast as Bielsa to have say on player's future

The US Men's National Team were beaten 2-1 by Panama on Thursday, leaving the Copa hosts facing a showdown with Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay in which they must secure a result or rely on CONMEBOL minnows Bolivia to defeat the Panamanians to go through to the quarter-finals.

Bielsa's men steamrolled Group C whipping boys Bolivia by five goals to nil in their second group stage game and appear to be going from strength to strength under the veteran Argentine coach.

Uruguay and the USA meet at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Monday night in what will prove to be a decider for the host nation, who will be desperate to avoid early elimination from a tournament being held in their own backyard.

"The U.S. men’s national team is in trouble," a report in The Athletic read following Uruguay's comfortable victory over Bolivia.

"After a shocking loss to Panama in the second round, the host nation’s path out of the group stage is now murky at best."

Uruguay sit top of the Group C standings with six points while the US are second on three points but solely by the virtue of favourable goal difference. Panama are also on three points in third, whilst Bolivia sit bottom with zero.

An early Copa exit would ensure Aaronson returns to Thorp Arch sooner than anticipated this summer, with the 23-year-old expected to spend some time away from Leeds after US involvement at the tournament comes to an end, before then returning to begin preparations for 2024/25.

If Bielsa manages to orchestrate a result against the United States, Aaronson and co could be sent packing, provided Panama earn at least a point from their encounter with Bolivia, in which they are favourites.