.:: Yanks Abroad ::.

CHRISTOPHER MCCOLLUM - Sunday, February 26, 2012

A series of untimely injuries and a bout of illness has forced several changes to the roster that will face Italy on Wednesday.

Jermaine Jones has a calf injury, Timmy Chandler has a glute injury, and Jose Torres has a bad hamstring while Landon Donovan has been unable to recover from illness over the weekend.

The spate of misfortunes has forced Jurgen Klinsmann to look for quick replacements, and found one of them close at hand in Europe; Sacha Kljestan has finally been called up after having the best season of his career with Anderlecht, and Brek Shea has left the U-23 camp in Texas early to join the team in Italy to try to make up for Donovan's speed.

With four starting field players out in one weekend, one can wonder what else can go wrong in the lead up to Wednesday's game. On location, YA's Brian Sciaretta has reportedly acquired a pair of cleats and is ready to make himself available should he be needed.

Further roster additions may be made Monday afternoon.

Stuart

Tuesday February 28, 2012 10:11 am

@Boss

We've all had bronchitis and know what it's like. The comments that Klinnsman made about Altidore fighting for a spot are not just for Altidore. It's a mentality that he's building into the team. Donovan has always shrunk in that situation. That's why he left Germany twice. That's why he has preferred to be a domestic player rather than playing in Europe. That's why he only prefers short loan spells to mid level teams where the playing time is guaranteed. To point out this pattern of his career is not to hate him. Plus, how many times has he played for Klinnsman & the MNT? How many times has he backed out? There's no hate. Donovan is just holding true to form.

Boss

Monday February 27, 2012 3:36 pm

@Stuart

Landon actually left England early and missed his last game with Everton due to the same illness. He has bronchitis, which is no joke. It's actually ridiculous the hate Landon gets on this site after all he has brought to the USMNT for all these years. Grow up.

Stuart

Monday February 27, 2012 12:20 pm

Donovan will continue to miss as many MNT call ups as possible...this will become par for the course until he "retires" from the National team to focus on his club responsibilities. He's afraid to fight for a spot on the team. He always has been and whenever it wasn't guaranteed he has quit the team.

ed c.

Monday February 27, 2012 1:33 am

if Sciaretta plays, there is no way we can lose!!

Ilya

Monday February 27, 2012 12:47 am

Whitbread should be invited.
Klinsi should not take players from U-23! How could they play when they never got the best players? Send Shea and Boyd back!

ADD YOUR COMMENTS