Christian Pulisic has been in fantastic form so far this season at AC Milan, but his new US men's national team boss Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he's 'worried' about the attacker.
The American has established himself as one of the first names on the Milan team sheet, and has six goals and two assists thus far while starting each of his team's nine games in all competitions.
But it's that sort of workload that is giving Pochettino some concerns, as he shared Wednesday ahead of the USMNT's matchup with Panama on Saturday.
'He's playing every single game, every single minute. That is also a thing that we are a little bit worried [about],' he told reporters. 'Sometimes we need to protect [Pulisic]. We'll see, because he arrived a little bit tired.'
'He continued, '[We need] to build a very good relationship with the club and try to help. And when we really need him, he needs to be in form, happy, strong and the quality is there, because he has an enormous talent.'
Mauricio Pochettino explained on Wednesday that he was 'worried' about Christian Pulisic's workload
The attacker has scored six goals already this season for AC Milan and has started all nine games in all competitions
Milan manager Paulo Fonseca said to DAZN last weekend that Pulisic, his club's top scorer, was substituted off towards the end of his team's 2-1 loss to Fiorentina over concerns of a hip flexor injury.
Nonetheless, Pulisic seems to be fine given that he traveled for the latest USA camp, and Pochettino gushed over the 26-year-old as 'one of the best offensive players in the world.'
'I see a player that can help now and in the future to put the team in a place that we want,' he added.
Pulisic has been in fine form for AC Milan, and scored again vs. Fiorentina last week
Asked about that praise, Pulisic said, 'It's nice to hear. For me, I still have a long way to go to reach the top, the very top. But I think I'm on a good path and I want to continue to improve.'
Pochettino, hired last month after thefiring of Gregg Berhalter in July, will manage the USMNT for the first time on Saturday in Austin, Texas.
The USA will also face Mexico on Tuesday in another friendly.