Zardes to miss US World Cup qualifiers after MLS injury
CHICAGO (AP) - Midfielder Gyasi Zardes will miss the United States' upcoming World Cup qualifiers after he was injured during a Major League Soccer game.
Already without forward Clint Dempsey as he undergoes evaluations for an irregular heartbeat, the Americans won't have Zardes for their final two games of the CONCACAF semifinals.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann is mostly sticking with the squad that finished fourth in the Centennial Copa America this summer.
"They deserve to come back and confirm what they did in the tournament," he said.
Forward Jordan Morris, 21, was added to the 26-man roster announced Sunday after he wasn't picked for the Copa team. Another young forward, 20-year-old Rubio Rubin, was also brought in to get a look in practice. Klinsmann plans to bring only 23 players on the road when the Americans face St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday.
The U.S. then hosts Trinidad and Tobago in Jacksonville, Florida, on Sept. 6.
Midfielder Jermaine Jones is rehabbing from a knee injury but is on the roster with the hope that he can play.
The Americans currently are second behind Trinidad and Tobago in Group C. The top two teams advance to the six-nation CONCACAF finals, from which three automatically make the field for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
If the U.S. wins Friday and Trinidad beats Guatemala that day, the Americans move on with one match to go. Michael Bradley (yellow card accumulation) and Michael Orozco (red card from Copa third-place game) are suspended for the first game.
Zardes was hurt Saturday night in the LA Galaxy's scoreless draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Galaxy have yet to announce details about the injury.
The Seattle Sounders had announced Friday that Dempsey would miss at least Sunday's MLS match.
Veterans Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez are on the roster after missing Copa America. Two more 21-year-olds - defender Kellyn Acosta and midfielder Paul Arriola - and 23-year-old midfielder Caleb Stanko are also part of the group that will begin to gather in Jacksonville on Sunday.
The roster, including club team affiliation:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids).
Defenders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha BSC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle).
Midfielders: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (FC Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV).