McKennie fractured his foot and will miss the rest of the CONCACAF qualifiers

For stellar Juventus Serie A and USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie, Tuesday's 1-1 away draw between the "Vecchia Signora" and Villarreal at El Madrigal did not bring good news after a nasty injury in the 81st minute of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

How did Weston McKennie's injury happen?

McKennie was looking to break down the right flank, but was stopped after a hard sweep by Ecuadorian defender Pervis Estupiñán that hit the 23-year-old's left leg hard, who fell to the turf in pain.

The former Schalke 04 player had to be assisted off the field and had to be immediately replaced by Denis Zakaria to the concern on the faces of both the player and coach Massimiliano Allegri.

After X-Ray tests were carried out, the bad news was confirmed, McKennie has fractured the second and third metatarsal in his left foot and is expected to be out for two to three months.

McKennie will not be able to play against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium

An injury never comes at a good time, but this one is especially delicate as the 23-year-old, after not starting the season in a great way, had earned a place in the starting 11 of the Serie A's winningest team, but that's not the worst of it, in a month the United States will have its last three CONCACAF qualifying games for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

McKennie will miss the vital March 24 game against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, as well as March 27 when they host Panama and March 30 when they visit San Jose to face Costa Rica.

USMNT is playing for its life on the road to Qatar 2022

Currently, the USMNT is in second place in the CONCACAF qualifiers with 21 points ahead of Mexico on goal difference, remembering that the top three places will have a direct ticket to the World Cup, while the fourth place will play for a berth in Qatar 2022 in an inter-continental playoff against the winner of the Oceania qualifiers.