Editor’s Note: “Plane to Qatar” is FOX Sports’ weekly function monitoring the progress of gamers hoping to crack the United States Men’s National Team’s 26-player roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The unknown variable was at all times going to be accidents.
Now right here we’re, just a little greater than every week earlier than U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter will title his World Cup squad at a gala occasion Nov. 9 in Brooklyn, and there are vexing well being questions all around the subject for a squad already down two potential beginning central defenders in Chris Richards and Miles Robinson.
Can midfield star Weston McKennie, whom Juventus mentioned Monday will likely be out at least 15 days with the thigh injury he suffered final weekend, recuperate in time to play in opposition to Wales within the Americans’ Nov. 21 curtain raiser in Qatar?
Will co-No. 1 goalkeeper Matt Turner have the ability to return for Arsenal’s subsequent Europa League this Thursday? What about in-form striker Josh Sargent, who will miss at the least two matches for English second tier membership Norwich due to a calf ailment, or attacking midfielder Luca de la Torre, who is not anticipated to return from a left leg injury till the eve of the opener?
One means or the opposite, we’ll know the solutions quickly sufficient. With two extra weeks of membership matches to go earlier than the World Cup break begins, Berhalter is aware of he’ll be fortunate simply if no person else goes down.
Here’s the place the participant pool is because it stands.
First class
F/M Brenden Aaronson (Leeds): Aaronson’s positive kind continues at membership degree; he was named Man of the Match after Leeds’ gorgeous (and desperately wanted) win at Liverpool final Saturday.
^M Kellyn Acosta (LAFC): The defensive midfielder’s seat on the aircraft is assured at this level. Acosta and LAFC face Philadelphia in Saturday’s MLS Cup (4 p.m. ET, FOX).
M Tyler Adams (Leeds): Adams returned from the muscle injury that price him one Premier League match to go all 90 minutes at Anfield. Perhaps the USMMT’s most irreplaceable participant, his well being is one thing to look at intently earlier than the World Cup break.
D Sergiño Dest (AC Milan): Right again Dest additionally returned from a minor injury over the weekend, coming off the bench within the Rossoneri’s 2-1 win over Torino. Milan faces FC Salzburg Wednesday in its ultimate Champions League group stage match of 2022-23.
F Ricardo Pepi (Groningen): The Netherlands-based striker did not rating, however went the gap for the fourth straight Eredivisie sport in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Emmen.
*M Weston McKennie (Juventus): McKennie will not play one other Serie A match earlier than the World Cup.
M Yunus Musah (Valencia): Surefire World Cup starter Musah, who does not flip 20 till later this month, served a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation in Valencia’s 1-0 loss to Barcelona final week.
F Christian Pulisic (Chelsea): The excellent news is that Pulisic has began consecutive video games for the Blues for the primary time this season. The dangerous is that he and the remainder of Chelsea’s gamers had a day to overlook in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Brighton. Already certified for the knockout stage of the Champions League, Chelsea closes out group play Wednesday versus Dinamo Zagreb in London.
F/M Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund): For all of the USMNT’s injury worries, Reyna is quietly returning to the peak of his powers. Dortmund continues to be managing his brittle hamstrings cautiously – the 19-year-old performed solely the ultimate half hour of final week’s 4-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Reyna may return to the Black & Yellow lineup Wednesday in Copenhagen.
D Antonee Robinson (Fulham): Left again lock Jedi has been excellent for Fulham on either side of the ball in 5 Premier League video games since recovering from the excessive ankle sprain he sustained in September.
G Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough): Steffen has lengthy been Berhalter’s odds-on World Cup starter if wholesome and taking part in nicely each week. Steffen was glorious once more Wednesday in ‘Boro’s 3-1 win over Hull City.
*G Matt Turner (Arsenal): The 28-year-old was held out of the Gunners’ 2-0 Europa League loss at PSV Eindhoven final week, although Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta mentioned the injury “didn’t look serious.” We’ll see if Turner can return for Thursday’s go to from FC Zurich.
F Tim Weah (Lille): After 4 straight substitute appearances, the winger made his first Ligue 1 begin of the season Sunday, going 70 minutes in Lille’s 1-0 loss to Lyon.
D Walker Zimmerman (Nashville): The heart again hasn’t performed since Nashville’s season ended Oct. 15. He’ll be in Texas collaborating in health exercises with Berhalter and his employees via Nov. 5.
Comfort Plus
M Paul Arriola (Dallas): Participating in health exercises – that are happening at FCD’s amenities – with Berhalter and his employees via Nov. 5.
D Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic): A possible starter subsequent to Zimmerman in Qatar, the U.S. teaching employees will likely be rigorously watching the bodily 24-year-old heart again’s Champions League efficiency Wednesday, when Celtic visits defending champ Real Madrid.
D Reggie Cannon (Boavista): Despite stiff competitors at proper again, there’s little cause to suppose the versatile defender will not make the reduce for Qatar.
F Jesús Ferreira (Dallas): Participating within the USMNT’s health exercises via Nov. 5.
G Sean Johnson (New York City): Another glorious MLS season for Johnson ended Sunday with the Pigeons playoff loss at Philadelphia. The widespread veteran stays the likeliest decide for the third keeper spot.
D Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls): Odds are that Long will likely be there ultimately, however his spot may not be as safe as some suspect. He’s proper on the bubble after struggling to search out his pre-Achilles surgical procedure kind all through 2022.
D Mark McKenzie (Genk): McKenzie has performed his means again into the combo on the membership degree will profit from the accidents to Long, Chris Richards and Miles Robinson. He’s nonetheless not a lock, although.
M Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders): Hasn’t performed because the Sounders season ended on Oct. 9. Currently collaborating within the health exercises.
*F Josh Sargent (Norwich City): Sargent will miss Wednesday’s sport in opposition to Queens Park Rangers however may return for the Canaries Saturday at Rotherham.
D Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach): Went 90 minutes for the third straight sport in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Bundesliga-leading Union Berlin. The 19-year-old has began all 12 league matches for ‘Gladbach this season.
^M Malik Tillman (Rangers): If De la Torre’s injury does rule him out, it opens up a spot for one more central midfielder. Playing recurrently in Scotland and the in Champions League – he was one among Rangers’ few silver linings in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to Ajax – Tillman in all probability will get the nod over the idle Cristian Roldan.
D DeAndre Yedlin (Miami): Hasn’t performed since Miami was eradicated from the MLS playoffs on Oct. 18. Currently collaborating in health exercises with Berhalter and his employees via Nov. 5.
Standby record
M Johnny Cardoso (Internacional): The two-way, Brazil-based Cardoso will likely be within the combine if De la Torre or McKennie aren’t wholesome in time.
⌄*M Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo): His membership supervisor insists he’ll be OK for the World Cup. But the timing, mixed with De la Torre logging simply 50 La Liga minutes all season, puts his inclusion in critical doubt.
G Ethan Horvath (Luton Town): On Tuesday, Horvath posted his seventh clear sheet in 18 appearances this season along with his second-tier English membership. He’s is at the least giving Berhalter one thing to consider.
M Djordje Mihailovic (Montreal): De la Torre’s injury retains Mihailovic right here and casts doubt on Berhalter’s determination to not give the Netherlands-bound playmaker a glance in September.
D Erik Palmer-Brown (Troyes): It was a predictably lengthy day for the large heart again in opposition to PSG’s all-planet entrance line of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar final Saturday. Palmer-Brown conceded a second half penalty that Mbappe transformed in Troyes’ 4-3 loss.
F Jordan Pefok (Union Berlin): Pefok’s scoreless streak now sits at six video games.
*D Chris Richards (Crystal Palace): Sidelined since August, the middle again nonetheless hasn’t resumed full coaching, Palace supervisor Patrick Vieira confirmed final Friday.
D Tim Ream (Fulham): Given the USMNT’s considerations at heart again it is exhausting to consider that Ream is not a roster lock based mostly on his performances this season for the Cottagers, the place he performs each week subsequent to Antonee Robinson on the earth’s hardest league.
Ream hasn’t been summoned by Berhalter since withdrawing from a trio of October 2021 World Cup qualifiers due to an undisclosed private matter. Whatever the explanation for his omission is, it is going to be a disgrace for each the 35-year-old and the USMNT if Ream is not recalled for Qatar.
M Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders): Berhalter will likely be watching Roldan’s numbers throughout the ongoing health exercises in Texas. If he likes what he sees, it is nonetheless doable that the coach takes the USMNT veteran over 2022 debutant Tillman even when Roldan hasn’t performed since Seattle’s season ended Oct. 9.
^D Auston Trusty (Birmingham City): The 24-year-old former MLSer has been among the best heart backs in England’s Championship this season, and he scored an attractive objective over the weekend:
Trusty’s been referred to as as much as the USMNT twice, most just lately in January, however stays uncapped. It’s nonetheless extremely unlikely that he makes the 26. Given the problems in central protection, it is not solely not possible, both.
D Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp): In Belgium, the left-footed left again went 90 minutes for the third straight sport.
F Haji Wright (Antalyaspor): The large striker scored his third objective in three outings in Monday’s 2-1 Turkish Süper Lig over Sivasspor. Could Wright sneak onto the roster if Sargent’s restoration hits a snag?
*Injured
^Bumped up
⌄Bumped down
Added: Auston Trusty
Dropped: None
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