Joshua Gatt Withdraws from US U-23 Squad Days Before Olympic Qualifying

Head coach Caleb Porter's United States U-23 squad was dealt a blow just days before they begin their Olympic qualifying campaign.

Defender Joshua Gatt is being forced to withdraw from the U.S. squad after his club team recalled him. Gatt plays for Molde in the Norwegian Tippeligaen.

Since clubs are not obligated to provide players for Olympic qualifying, the 20-year-old U.S. defender had no choice but to leave the U-23s.

Molde opens their season this Friday. Head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recalled Gatt after his side was hit with a series of injuries. Gatt made 27 appearances and scored five goals during Molde's 2011 championship season.

This is the second time in as many years that Molde has kept Gatt from participating with the national program. Gatt was denied permission to participate in last year's U-20 World Cup qualifying, in which the Americans failed to qualify for the tournament finals.

Porter will have until Tuesday to name a replacement for Gatt, when CONCACAF requires final Olympic qualifying rosters to be submitted.

The United States is drawn into Group A qualifying with Cuba, Canada and El Salvador. They kick off their push to reach the 2012 London Olympics on Thursday when they square off against Cuba in Nashville, TN.