Sergiño Dest injury complicates USMNT’s final World Cup qualifying push

The U.S. nationwide crew, already lacking its greatest participant in midfielder Weston McKennie, could have misplaced one other Thursday when outdoors again Sergiño Dest sustained an obvious leg harm only a week earlier than the primary of three essential qualifiers that can decide if the Individuals return to the World Cup this fall in Qatar.

McKennie broke a foot earlier this month taking part in for his membership crew in Italy whereas Dest limped off the sphere within the 56th minute of Barcelona’s Europa League win over Galatasaray.

Coach Gregg Berhalter mentioned there isn’t any changing McKennie.

“He’s been so vital to this group that we’re not going to plug a man in and get a like for like,” he mentioned. “However that’s OK. We’ve gained video games earlier than with out him. And we’ll do it once more.”

LAFC’s Kellyn Acosta together with Luca de la Torre, Brenden Aronson, Gio Reyna and Cristian Roldan have been among the many gamers Berhalter mentioned might play in McKennie’s absence.

The coach additionally has a plan in place ought to Dest show to be unavailable.

“It’s not nice information. Preliminary prognosis it appears to be a hamstring harm,” Berhalter mentioned. “We might have to exchange him and we’ve already recognized candidates.”

Who, precisely, he’ll name in as a substitute he didn’t say. Nevertheless it’s not precisely one of the best ways to begin a very powerful two weeks of Berhalter’s stint with the nationwide crew.

The U.S., second behind Canada within the eight-team CONCACAF qualifying standings, should end within the high three to earn an computerized berth within the World Cup, and its three remaining matches are towards its three closest pursuers. The Individuals will open towards Mexico — which trails the U.S. on purpose differential — March 24 in Mexico Metropolis, earlier than dealing with fourth-place Panama, 4 factors again of the U.S., in Orlando, Fla., on March 27.

Berhalter’s crew then closes qualifying March 30 in Costa Rica. 5 factors from the three video games would assure a World Cup berth, which means the U.S., which has by no means gained a qualifier in Mexico or Costa Rica, can’t afford to lose each.

It’s a grueling schedule of three video games in seven days that can make it unlikely anybody will play the total 90 minutes in all three.

“It’s one thing you will get by means of,” Berhalter mentioned. “Our job is to place 11 gamers on the sphere that may win the sport.”

The 27-man roster Berhalter does have out there is a younger one, averaging 24 years of age and simply 12 appearances in aggressive matches. It’s one that features 4 youngsters, together with Reyna, 19, who hasn’t performed for the U.S. since injuring a hamstring within the opening qualifier in September in El Salvador.

He proved his health in a 21-minute effort Wednesday, establishing the one purpose in Dortmund’s Bundesliga win over Mainz.

Additionally returning are middle backs Aaron Lengthy and Erik Palmer-Brown and goalkeeper Ethan Horvath. Lengthy has been out since rupturing an Achilles final Might, Palmer-Brown’s final nationwide crew camp got here in 2018 whereas Horvath is again for the primary time since qualifying started in September.

They may be part of a core centered round Chelsea attacker Christian Pulisic, who has collected three targets and an help in his final six appearances throughout all competitions for his membership crew. He additionally scored a 2-0 U.S. win over Mexico in Cincinnati in November.

Along with McKennie and maybe Dest, Berhalter can also be lacking goalkeeper Matt Turner of the New England Revolution to harm. Turner hasn’t performed for membership or nation since February’s qualifying win over Honduras in sub-zero temperatures in Minnesota.

Amongst these left off the roster is former Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget, who performed within the first 4 qualifiers, beginning twice and scoring a purpose, and middle again John Brooks.

However Lletget, now with New England, hasn’t performed since October’s loss in Panama whereas Brooks hasn’t been referred to as in since September.

The roster

Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest), Sean Johnson (New York Metropolis FC), Zack Steffen (Manchester Metropolis).

Defenders: Reggie Cannon (Boavista), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona), Aaron Lengthy (New York Crimson Bulls), Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), James Sands (Rangers), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Luca de la Torre (Heracles), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Crimson Bull Salzburg), Paul Arriola (FC Dallas), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Jordan Pefok (Younger Boys), Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Tim Weah (Lille)