USMNT players with the most to prove during Gold Cup

The United States released their 23-man roster for the Gold Cup today, and there are a lot of names that haven’t been seen on a USMNT roster in a while. After taking in the roster, there are a few players with a lot to gain and a lot to lose. Here are the players who have the most to prove during next month’s tournament:

Matt Miazga

A few years ago, Matt Miazga was one of U.S. Soccer's hottest prospects. After a move from the New York Red Bulls to Chelsea, Miazga fell out of form and out of national team contention. However, after a very successful loan at Vitesse, Miazga has reinvented himself and is back on the national team.

This is a very important Gold Cup for Miazga because it is his chance to establish himself as the center back of the future. Going forward, Omar Gonzalez (28) and Geoff Cameron (31) are not going to be the first-choice pairings next to John Brooks. The 21-year old Miazga can prove to Bruce Arena he can be that guy going forward.

Kenny Saief

Kenny Saief, the talented 23-year-old midfielder from Belgium’s KAA Gent, has competed in Europe’s most prestigious tournaments. But the question around home is whether he is good enough for the USMNT? Saief, who recently made the one-time FIFA switch from Israel to the United States, has already earned his first call up from Arena. It is up to him to take this chance and run with it.

For Gent, Saief has played as a playmaking winger on both the left and right side. But, being a lefty, he prefers the left side. He is a very talented player who has the chance to earn the trust from Arena going into the World Cup next year. If he is able to produce, adding him to the midfield would be a huge addition.

Dom Dwyer, Juan Agudelo, Jordan Morris

When you look at the national team, the forwards selected aren’t what you would call trusted scorers on the international stage. Dom Dwyer, Juan Agudelo, and Jordan Morris will have plenty of time to prove they can be the go-to guy this Gold Cup.

Agudelo and Morris are both very promising players who have yet to really deliver on the national team stage. Still, Arena has given them another chance to prove their worth and they must take advantage.

However, the most interesting player on this whole team might be Dom Dwyer. Dwyer, who recently became a U.S. citizen, will have his first shot with the USMNT during the Gold Cup. The pit bull that is Dwyer will have the chance to perform and become the guy this team can depend on going forward.

Who are the players who you think have the most to prove next month with the USMNT?