Timothy Chandler out a month; will struggle to make June friendlies

Timothy Chandler has played his last game this season. According to the official Bundesliga website, the FC Nürnburg and USMNT right back will miss the remainder of the Bundesliga season with a knee injury. They're calling it a torn ligament, but the timetable laid out for his return suggests that it's a partial tear. He'll be sidelined for three-to-four weeks.

The United States plays two friendlies before diving into competitive matches this summer. They take on Belgium in Cleveland on May 29, then face Germany in Washington, D.C. on June 2. Their first World Cup qualifier is in Jamaica in June 7, which is followed up by home qualifiers against Panama and Honduras on June 11 and 18.

Without Chandler, the U.S. is thin at right back, though their options aren't terrible. Geoff Cameron has been a regular starter at right back for Stoke City this season and has looked competent -- though not spectacular and certainly worse than he does at central defense -- in that position for the U.S., while Steve Cherundolo might still have some gas in the tank.

Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez have formed a great partnership in their short time together for the national team and are both in excellent form in MLS. There's no reason to break them up, leaving Cameron free to play right back if Cherundolo needs some time off, or if Jurgen Klinsmann simply prefers the Stoke man. Chandler's potential absence early in the summer is a minor blow for the U.S., but for once, there's plenty of depth at fullback in the U.S. camp.