Club Brugge’s new signing, Owen Otasowie, has been noticeably missing from Jan Breydel Stadium and the reigning Belgian champion’s team sheet since joining them from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer.
According to Belgian publication Voetbalkrant, the one-time capped New Yorker has been given time off by Coach Phillipe Clement in order to return to England to deal with personal matters.
Otasowie has yet to play for Club, although Clement has spoken to his $4m signing about this difficult period of his life and the Belgian hopes to get the young American onto the field and into the thick of Pro League action as soon as possible.
The defender has made two bench appearances for his new team in league play, but has not yet been called into action, and has been completely missing from the team sheet starting with their late-September draw against Oud-Heverlee Leuven.
He made his full USMNT debut almost one year ago at the tail end of a friendly in Cardiff, Wales, where a European-based USA squad drew their hosts in a scoreless contest. This, plus a handful of Premier League appearances for Wolves prompted the Belgians to invest in bringing him to Jan Breydel.
Club, who are currently in third place in the league standings, will visit fourth place KV Mechelen on Friday night.