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The losses in the middle keep coming. U.S. Soccer announced this morning that Kenny Saief has been sent back to Anderlecht, departing the United States Men’s National Team due to not being fit for selection. He will not be replaced on the roster before tomorrow’s match.
With midfielder Kenny Saief not fit for selection, #USMNT head coach Dave Sarachan has 23 players to choose from for Tuesday’s friendly vs. Italy. pic.twitter.com/gzLW1cCKME
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) November 19, 2018
According to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, Saief entered camp with an injury and never was fully ready to play tomorrow. He did appear as a substitute in the 76th minute of the USMNT’s 3-0 loss to England, but Carlisle indicated that Saief was not going to be fit enough to make the match day roster tomorrow against Italy.
Apparently Saief was carrying an injury coming into camp. Since he wasn’t going to be on the game day roster, decision was made to send him back to Anderlecht. #usmnt https://t.co/XWip0Nc1vU
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) November 19, 2018
This leaves American interim manager Dave Sarachan with 23 players available for tomorrow’s match, the final one of the year and what will assuredly be the final match in Sarachan’s interim tenure with the USMNT.
The updated 23-man roster that will be available for selection against Italy:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge), Jonathan Klinsmann (Hertha Berlin)
DEFENDERS (9): John Brooks (Wolfsburg), Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Swansea City), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Matt Miazga (Nantes), Shaq Moore (Reus Deportiu), Jorge Villafaña (Portland Timbers), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle), Walker Zimmerman (Los Angeles Football Club)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC), Romain Gall (Malmö FF), Julian Green (Greuther Fürth), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain)
FORWARDS (2): Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen), Bobby Wood (Hannover)