"Josh Sargent is in fantastic shape!" - Florian Kohfeldt

Sargent, 19, was a surprise omission from Gregg Berhalter's 23-man ensemble that went on to reach the final of the summer showcase.

Kohfeldt responded by offering his teenaged striker an extended vacation, but has revealed how Sargent instead chose to stay in Germany to lay the groundwork for his second season as a professional with Werder.

"It was frustrating for him not to be called up for the Gold Cup, but he wasn't devastated about it," Kohfeldt told Bremen fan site deichstube.de.

"I gave him the chance to spend some time with his family because he's a long way from home here in Bremen, and can't fly back to the US very often, but he didn't want to.

"He told me that his full focus is on Werder Bremen. Now he's come back in fantastic shape, which is really important for him."

Watch: Christmas came early for Josh Sargent last year

Sargent made 10 Bundesliga appearances last season, albeit only one start, scoring two goals - including one just 86 seconds into his debut - from three shots on goal.

He earned his seventh senior international cap in the USA's Gold Cup warm-up defeat to Jamaica and was expected to travel to the finals, before being cut.

For Kohfeldt, however, the Missouri native's omission could be a blessing in disguise.

"I'd have welcomed it if he'd have played at the finals because that kind of thing is always a good experience, but we also see the positives of him not being involved," the Bremen boss explained. "Josh is really fresh at our training camp and knuckling down.

"Josh will be called up again, anyway. It hasn't done his international career any harm."