Jermaine Jones and Timothy Chandler suspended for USMNT's next WCQ
The USMNT were crushed 4-0 by Costa Rica, leaving them bottom of the Hexagonal standings after two matches. To make matters worse, Jermaine Jones and Timothy Chandler were both cautioned, making them ineligible for the Honduras match in March due to yellow card suspension.
Chandler's omission is fairly straightforward. He only came in for previous regular starter DeAndre Yedlin recently, and the pacy outside back should slot back into the lineup once more, assuming the US stick with a traditional back four formation. Given how poorly Chandler played on Tuesday, Yedlin may be able to regain his right back spot anyway.
Jermaine Jones' absence presents a bit more of an issue. Sacha Kljestan has returned to the national team fold in good form, and he seems the most likely to take over for JJ in the middle of the park. And, indeed, Kljestan was the one to come off the substitute's bench for the Colorado Rapids midfielder against Costa Rica. However, it remains to be seen whether a midfield tandem of Michael Bradley and Kljestan can be effective in high-stakes games.
Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman could be the man to shore up the midfield ranks in Jones' place, and could even sneak into the starting lineup in a midfield three. As it stands though, he'll likely be used in reserve.
Either way, the US's lineup will have a distinctly different look when they take on Honduras next year.
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