Will Tyler Adams return this month?
It’s possible, but not guaranteed. Adams is an automatic U.S. starter when fit, and last weekend he was able to help Bournemouth stun mighty Manchester City in Premier League play.
On the flip side, that was Adams second appearance for the Cherries in 2024-25, his third consecutive season beset by injury. If Pochettino believes that Adams isn’t yet match fit enough to occupy a major role against the most physical opponent in Concacaf, he could determine that the hard-running central midfielder — and, by extension, the USMNT — would be best served long-term by having Adams remain in England this month.
Pochettino has several tough choices to make
The next man up in Adams’ destroyer role is still probably Johnny Cardoso, who was injured in October. Now Cardoso is back. Where does that leave Tanner Tessmann, who was added last month specifically to replace him? Tessmann, an unused sub for French club Lyon last weekend, could be among those squeezed out this month.
The numbers crunch could also cost Alex Zendejas, one of the USMNT’s few bright spots against Mexico — though Zendejas did score in Club America’s 2-1 Liga MX victory over Pachuca on Wednesday night. Zendejas replaced Weah in October.
Striker Brandon Vázquez, another late add last time, has perhaps the best chance of sticking around. With Josh Sargent scheduled for groin surgery and Folarin Balogun still sidelined with the dislocated shoulder he suffered on the eve of the October window, Vázquez, who also impressed during his cameo in Guadalajara, and Pepi could vie for the starting job against Jamaica despite usually serving as substitutes for their clubs. Haji Wright, a natural center forward who has spent the last two seasons as a winger with Coventry in England’s second tier, might also be in the mix up front.
Full roster prediction
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath, Patrick Schulte, Matt Turner,
- Left out: Gaga Slonina, Zack Steffen
Fullbacks: Kristoffer Lund, Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, Joe Scally
- Left out: Marlon Fossey, Richie Ledezma
- Injured: Sergiño Dest
Center backs: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty
- Injured: Chris Richards
Midfielders: Gianluca Busio, Johnny Cardoso, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris
- Left out: Tyler Adams, Lennard Maloney, Tanner Tessmann
- Injured: Gio Reyna
Wingers: Brenden Aaronson, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Haji Wright
- Left out: Cole Campbell, Cade Cowell, Alex Zendejas
Strikers: Ricardo Pepi, Brandon Vázquez
- Injured: Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports. A staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him @ByDougMcIntyre.
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