Even if he doesn’t make it on this month’s roster, the Long payoff could come during the team’s last qualifying window in March.
“He looks great,” Berhalter said of Long. “His progression from Cincinnati to December to now has been right in line. For us it’s about having fit players, having guys in rhythm available. I’m not sure he’s going to get there, but hopefully he’ll be close. Then he goes back to preseason with his team and he plays games there at the start of the season and hopefully in March we’re having different conversations.”
Hometown Lennon Making a Play for Qualifying Roster
Atlanta United right back Brooks Lennon has long been on Berhalter’s radar, but for varying reasons didn’t get into a USMNT camp with the head coach until last month. The 24-year-old finally earned his senior team debut in the win against Bosnia and was one of the few new players from December to earn a recall for this month’s camp.
While the depth chart at right back is very deep, Lennon can make a case to be included in the squad this month. Even if he doesn’t, there are more possibilities for players like Lennon to contribute later in the year.
“Brooks has done a good job. It was nice seeing him in camp and nice working with him. We thought he played reasonably well against Bosnia and now it’s a chance to validate that in this camp. We’re going to play three scrimmages; it’ll be nice to see how he progresses and see if he can make this qualifying roster.
“One thing I’ll say is that we have 20 guys in camp and if they don’t make the roster for the January qualifying window, it’s not a final determination. We know where these guys are at, we know what we need for this window and there will be opportunity enough as the year goes on.”
Qualifying Outlook
With six qualifiers left, the USMNT (4-1-3; 15 pts.) sits in second place, just one point back of Octagonal leaders Canada (4-0-4; 16 pts.). While in good position, the USA has just one more point than Mexico and Panama (both 4-2-2; 14 pts.), leaving little room for error through the final six matches.
With two of the three remaining home games occurring during the upcoming window, Berhalter’s side recognizes the massive step that could be taken towards qualification this month.
