Bradley set to miss World Cup games

Published Aug. 30, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

United States midfielder Michael Bradley is set to miss next month's World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica.

Bradley was expected to play a key role in Jurgen Klinsmann's team, but is now set to miss both matches after suffering a thigh injury during training with AS Roma on Tuesday that is expected to keep him out between two and three weeks.

"The hope is that Michael can return after the international break or very soon thereafter," Ron Waxman, Bradley's New York-based agent, told FOX Soccer on Wednesday.

Bradley's injury will be a serious blow for the U.S., and will now put more responsibility on Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman to anchor the midfield in his absence. Jones and Beckerman started together in the U.S. team's recent 1-0 victory against Mexico at Estadio Azteca.

The United States currently leads the qualifying group that includes Jamaica, Guatemala and Antigua & Barbuda with four points, and will be facing Jamaica in Kingston, Jamaica on Sept. 7th before taking on the 'Reggae Boyz' in Columbus, Ohio on Sept. 11th.