Josh Sargent, Haji Wright open 2024 with goalscoring performances

Two strikers aiming to return to the U.S. men’s national team in 2024 kicked off their new years on positive notes.

Josh Sargent and Haji Wright both found the back of the net on Monday in respective EFL Championship matches with their clubs. Sargent scored the equalizing goal for Norwich City in a 1-1 draw with Southampton while Wright netted the winner for Coventry City in a 3-1 road triumph over Middlesbrough.

Sargent came off the bench in the 66th minute for David Wagner’s men before celebrating the tying goal 12 minutes later. The USMNT forward drilled a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner, cancelling out Adam Armstrong’s opener for Southampton.

It marked Sargent’s fourth goal of the EFL Championship campaign and his first since August 26 for the club.

Wright’s 58th minute finish at the Riverside Stadium helped Coventry City erase a 1-0 deficit and take a 2-1 lead. His close-range finish off of an Ellis Simms assist gave Wright his eighth league goal of the campaign.

Coventry City would add a third and final goal through Tatsuhiro Sakamoto’s header 11 minutes later. The Sky Blues moved up to eighth place in the league standings after extending their unbeaten run to seven matches.

Both Sargent and Wright will be crucial in whether or not their clubs can boost themselves into the top-six picture this year. In addition, a strong second half of the season could be important for Sargent and Wright in the USMNT picture.