Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna have both been included in the latest USA men’s squad for the CONCACAF Nations League despite a severe lack of playing time at the club level.
Adams, who underwent hamstring surgery in October, has made just two appearances for Bournemouth since joining from Leeds over the summer.
A hamstring issue also cost him the final 14 games of Leeds’ 2022-23 season, and the midfielder had gone over a year without a Premier League appearance before Wednesday, when he came off the bench in the 71st minute for the Cherries vs. Luton Town.
USA coach Gregg Berhalter shared that he spoke to Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola about the player this week.
‘He couldn’t say enough good things about [Adams],’ Berhalter told media in a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
Midfielder Tyler Adams is nearing a return from a hamstring injury for Bournemouth
Gio Reyna, meanwhile, has hardly played for Nottingham Forest since joining on loan
‘He’s been missed for a while,’ Berhalter added of Adams, who hasn’t played for the USA since the World Cup. ‘It’ll be nice to get him back into this group.’
Reyna, meanwhile, has hardly played since joining Nottingham Forest on loan in January.
The 21-year-old, who had been struggling for form and fitness earlier this season with Borussia Dortmund, has been on the field for just 39 minutes as Forest tries to stave off relegation (Forest were three points above the relegation zone at the time of publishing).
Still, Berhalter cited Reyna’s strong play with the national team over the last year and expressed confidence that he’ll come good with Forest.
‘It’s always concerning when guys aren’t getting regular minutes. But what we know about adapting to different leagues is sometimes it takes a while,’ Berhalter began.
‘And in Gio’s case, you know, he’s coming from the Bundesliga to a very high tempo, Premier League and his team in particular is very robust, very high energy in the counter attack. And, you know, we’re not surprised that it’s taking him little bit, but we believe that, you know, he’ll be able to get it done in the end.’
Adams and Reyna celebrate after beating Mexico in the 2021 Nations League Final
US men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter discussed his squad on Wednesday
Both Adams and Reyna are considered significant pieces of the USA set up moving forward.
Adams wore the captain’s armband during the Qatar World Cup, while Reyna was limited to sub appearances amid a fallout with manager Gregg Berhalter but starred in the Nations League last summer.
Another important piece of the World Cup squad, Brenden Aaronson, was not included in this latest squad.
‘With Brenden, when we’re looking at – in particular – our midfield… we think there’s guys ahead of him right now,’ Berhalter said.
The USA will face Jamaica in the Nations League semifinals on March 21.
If the Americans win, they’ll face the either Mexico or Panama on March 24 in the final.