SOCCER: US goalkeeper Klinsmann sidelined with spine injury

Cesena goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann has been ruled out for the remainder of the season following a serious injury sustained during Saturday’s Serie B match against Palermo. The 29-year-old American fractured his spine, casting doubt on his potential inclusion in the U.S. World Cup squad this summer.

Klinsmann, the son of former Germany international and World Cup winner Juergen Klinsmann, shared the unfortunate news on social media, revealing that he is facing an indefinite recovery period. "Unfortunately, my season came to an end on Saturday. During the match, I suffered a fracture to my spine which will sideline me for a while," Klinsmann wrote on Instagram.

Despite his injury, Klinsmann had been enjoying a strong campaign in Italy, making him a possible candidate for the U.S. World Cup team. The goalkeeper earned several call-ups to the national squad for recent friendlies but has yet to make his debut, as he did not see any game time during those windows.

Currently sitting in eighth place in Italy's Serie B with 44 points, Cesena fell to a 2-0 defeat at Palermo on Saturday, which marked the match in which Klinsmann sustained his injury.

Born in Germany but raised in California, Klinsmann worked his way up through the U.S. youth ranks towards the end of his father’s tenure as U.S. Men’s National Team head coach (2011-2016).

The U.S. is set to begin their World Cup campaign at home against Paraguay on June 12, followed by matches against Australia and Turkey in Group D.

-Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne/Reuters