This week brought encouraging news for the U.S. men’s national team. With the crucial March camp approaching, several key players returned to action for their clubs after injury layoffs.
Midfielder Tyler Adams, who captained the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup, made his comeback for Bournemouth in a 0-0 draw against West Ham on Saturday following a two-month absence. Adams, sidelined since December with a sprained MCL, looked sharp in his first match back. His earlier-than-expected return is a positive boost for U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Striker Ricardo Pepi also returned to the field over the weekend after missing nine league matches due to a broken arm in January. Wearing a black cast on his left forearm, Pepi appeared as a substitute in the 76th minute during PSV Eindhoven’s 3-1 victory over Heerenveen. He nearly scored immediately, with a shot saved in the 77th minute and a goal disallowed in the 78th, before netting a spectacular goal in the 87th, firing from outside the box into the bottom right corner.
Pepi is competing for a spot on his first World Cup squad and knows time is short to impress Pochettino and his staff. He quickly reminded everyone of his clinical finishing, a skill the U.S. will need this summer.
"Amazing feeling to be back!" Pepi posted on social media. "Thanks to all the PSV fans for the warm support. Let’s finish strong!"
"I honestly didn’t know what to expect from him," coach Bosz said on the club’s website. "He had two scoring chances, one disallowed. The goal he scored was classic Pepi – in that position, you can expect a goal."
Pepi faces competition from a U.S. striker pool that includes Folarin Balogun, Pochettino’s likely first choice, along with Patrick Agyemang and Haji Wright. All four forwards have been in form for their clubs, giving Pochettino a promising problem to solve. The March camp, featuring friendlies against Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta, will likely determine which players receive call-ups.
Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic returned to AC Milan’s starting XI. The U.S. star, recovering from bursitis, played 62 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Parma, creating several scoring opportunities. The U.S. camp wants Pulisic fit and ready for March, but most importantly, at peak condition for the World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12.
While Adams, Pepi, and Pulisic appear on the rise, other World Cup hopefuls face setbacks.
Antonee "Jedi" Robinson didn’t feature in Fulham’s 3-1 win over Sunderland on Sunday. After missing 12 games earlier this season due to a knee injury, Robinson returned in December but now suffers from an ankle issue, frustrating the left back.
Elsewhere, attacking midfielder Gio Reyna has missed multiple games for Borussia Mönchengladbach with a muscle injury, while Diego Luna sat out Real Salt Lake’s season opener, a 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps, due to a knee problem.
