A look at the USMNT roster, by position

Jermaine Jones (L) and Kyle Beckerman (2nd L) train with teammates at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 23, 2016, two days before the COPA America 2016, 3rd place final soccer match against Colombia. / AFP / Mark Ralston (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) /

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St. Gallen, Schweiz 09.08.2016, Testspiel BV Borussia Dortmund – Athletic Bilbao, BVB, Christian Pulisic (U-19 BVB) (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

MIDFIELDERS

With Jermaine Jones withdrawing from the roster due to a knee injury, and Michael Bradley suspended for the first of the two upcoming qualifiers due to yellow card accumulation, Klinsmann will be forced to make do with a make-shift central midfield.

Sacha Kljestan may well get a start after a two-year plus absence from the national team – the New York Red Bulls midfielder initially thought the call-up was a prank. He is in top form currently, leading MLS in assists while compiling as many league goals as red-hot Jozy Altidore.

In light of Jones’s injury and Bradley’s suspension, the absence of Reading’s Danny Williams is particularly glaring – Klinsmann seems keen on not calling him into the USMNT, for whatever reason.

That leaves the potential for some mix of the aforementioned Kljestan, the way-past-his-usefulness Kyle Beckerman, attacking-minded Darlington Nagbe, and Alejandro Bedoya at central midfield. Hurry back, MB90.

The in-demand and super-promising Christian Pulisic will surely see some time on the wing, with many hoping Klinsmann will give the youngster two starts. It will be hard to justify leaving him out of the starting XI when he is scoring goals.

Bedoya, Nagbe, veteran Graham Zusi, and the speedy Paul Arriola are the other options out wide for the USMNT.

Next: Forwards: Jozy Back

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