The United States team for their friendly against Italy on Wednesday is undergoing several changes as injury and illness has forced the withdrawal of four players and the addition of two new ones. Landon Donovan, Timothy Chandler, Jose Francisco Torres and Jermaine Jones are all out for Wednesday's friendly and will be replaced by Brek Shea and Sacha Kljestan. It was also announced that there could be more additions to the team on Monday.
Brek Shea, Sacha Kljestan Replace Landon Donovan, Three Others On USA Roster
Donovan is dealing with bronchitis and will not be able to play against Italy because of it. The illness already forced him to miss his final match with Everton before the end of his loan spell. Meanwhile, Chandler and Torres both injured their hamstrings and Jones pulled his calf.
The absence of Donovan will be the toughest for the U.S. to take, especially manager Jurgen Klinsmann. While the result of a friendly is unimportant, Donovan and Clint Dempsey have not been on the pitch together for the U.S. since Klinsmann took over as manager in August. Getting them out there together against Italy would have not just been nice for American fans to see, but a good test of the makeover the U.S. team is undergoing under Klinsmann.
With so many players out, Kljestan will finally get another look. The midfielder has been fantastic for Anderlecht as they have raced to the top of the Belgian Pro League, but to the dismay of Kljestan and many observers, he has been ignored by Klinsmann since September. Now he will get a chance to impress on the international stage again. Shea will too, which he will need to do after a couple disappointing matches for the Yanks in January.
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