US forward Landon Donovan has returned to the World Cup qualifying campaign after being named in a 23-man squad for September’s qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico.
The US’ all-time top scorer missed the matches against those opponents in March while he took an extended break from the game and was left out of later squads by Jurgen Klinsmann.
Donovan, who this week signed a new contract with Los Angeles Galaxy, was recalled for last month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and was the tournament’s joint top scorer with five goals as the US won the title.
STARTING PLACE
He is by no means guaranteed a place in the starting lineup, however, given the established strike pairing of Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey and the inclusion of AZ striker Aron Johannsson, who recently switched allegiance to the US after representing Iceland at under-21 level.
Klinsmann has also used German-born wing-back Fabian Johnson on the left flank in recent games while Graham Zusi has been a solid presence on the right side of midfield.
The US play Costa Rica in San Jose on Sept. 6 and take on old rivals Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, four days later.
The US head the six-team qualifying group with 13 points from six games ahead of Costa Rica on 11 and Mexico with eight.
TOP THREE
The top three countries qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil with the fourth-placed team going into a two-leg playoff against Oceania winners New Zealand.
The US have never won a qualifier in Costa Rica, but Klinsmann believes his squad can end that barren run.
“It’s about going in there with confidence and winning, getting the three points. We have built that confidence over the last two years. We have built a roster now that is a lot deeper than it was before,” he told ESPN’s Sports Center.
“Just getting the results over the last two years, winning in Italy, beating Germany here... gives them now the confidence to say, ‘Why not Costa Rica?’ There is always a first time. We hope it’s going to be the first time ever that we beat them on their soil in a World Cup qualifying game. There will be a lot of tension down there, but I think we’re ready for it,” he said.
One complicating factor for Klinsmann is that eight of his squad are one yellow card from suspension and if any of them are cautioned in Costa Rica they would miss the Mexico game.
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