USA 7s star indicates he won't return this weekend after picking up 'little knock'

United States Sevens star Perry Baker has indicated he won’t return to the field in Sydney this weekend after sustaining “a little knock” against Samoa on Saturday.

The 2017 & 2018 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year was attempting to clear a Samoan player out during their Pool C clash at Allianz Stadium when he sustained the cruel blow.

Baker was one of three Eagles’ players who were ruled out of their ninth place quarter-final against Uruguay on Day Three of the Sydney Sevens.

Ben Brosell and David Still were also unavailable for the clash, as the United States were reduced to 10 players.

Instead, Baker was seen standing around his teammates at half-time with water bottles in hand and his trackpants on.

The United States still managed to record a thrilling two-point win against Uruguay, even without three of their World Series regulars.

After walking off the field and into the tunnel at the North-West corner, Baker opened up about his injury which he said “comes with the territory” of Sevens.

“I just tried to do a little clear out, I just took a little knock,” Baker told RugbyPass. “Just a little bruising, nicks and stuff, but comes with the territory.

“I’m all good though… (I’ll) rest up, it’s been a long two weeks and I’ll get ready for the next tournament.”

The United States were second in the overall World Series standings after picking up their second bronze medal of the season in Hamilton last weekend.

But a disappointing Sydney Sevens campaign is set to cost the Eagles, who are set to fall down the standings.

“That’s not who we are and where we want to be,” he added.

“These next couple of games we’ve got to show who we are, like it’s character, and we’ve just got to try and get these points because right now that’s what we’re fighting for.”

Veteran coach Mike Friday provided a more in-depth update on his injured star.

Friday revealed that Baker had “got a knee to the compressed neck” on Day Two, which has seemingly ruled him out for the remainder of the Sydney event.

“In the Samoan game he got a knee to the compressed neck so it wasn’t a HIA but it was a stringer on the clear out where he came off,” Friday told reporters.

“It’s more precautionary more than anything else, we don’t need to risk players health however important the next game is.

“Ben Brosell (is unavailable) and then obviously we got a disappointing sighting after something we’d already been sorted and solved with David Still’s yellow card that led to a three game ban.

“Disappointing, I felt the referees dealt with it on the pitch. I didn’t think there was any need for anybody outside of that to get involved but that’s rugby for you.

“David is learning the game, so we take our punishment and we move on.

“We’re up against it at the moment, we’re down to 10 players and we’re struggling, but you’ve got to stay in an arm wrestle and we’ve got to worry about the next game which will probably be the winner of Argentina (versus) Tonga, I think or Japan.”

The United States are desperate to secure a ninth place finish in Sydney, as they look to remain in the race for World Series glory and automatic Olympic qualification.

But it doesn’t get any easier for them.

Hamilton Sevens champions Argentina failed to back-up their heroics from last weekend’s event in Sydney, and will go head-to-head with the Eagles in the semi-final.

“That just shows how tough this tournament is for the men’s side,” he added.

“You’ve got 10 teams scrapping for everything, and then it’s not pretty down the bottom either where they’re scrapping for everything as well.

“It’s a testament to the World Series, great if you’re a player, great if you’re a supporter, absolutely rubbish you’re a coach.”