[AMERICANS ABROAD] And the U.S. injury list keeps on growing. Midfielder Jose Francisco Torres became the seventh U.S. national team player based abroad to be sidelined since Christmas when he injured his right hamstring playing for Pachuca in Mexico's First Division. Pachuca coach Guillermo Rivarola says the Texas-born Torres could be sidelined for a few weeks.

Torres picked up the injury in the second game of the Bicentenario 2010 against Queretaro and also played on Saturday against Atlanta but came off in the second half of the 5-1 Pachuca win.

The injury comes at an inopportune time for Torres, who has been playing well for Pachuca since regaining a spot in the starting lineup.

He impressed in his most recent outing for the USA, the final World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica, but is still on the bubble for the World Cup team.

He could have called up for the midweek friendly against El Salvador on Feb. 24 in Tampa, but the injury could jeopardize his chances of playing in that game.

Torres, known in Mexico as "El Gringo," is the seventh potential U.S. World Cup player to be sidelined this winter. The others are:


In addition, AC Milan central defender Oguchi Onyewu (knee injury) and Sochaux forward Charlie Davies (multiple injuries suffered in car crash) have been sidelined since mid-October.