DeAndre Yedlin

DeAndre Yedlin could miss upcoming USMNT World Cup qualifiers with injury

Published Mar. 8, 2017 2:49 p.m. ET

DeAndre Yedlin's availability for the United States' upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama is in doubt after the right back suffered a thigh injury while playing with Newcastle. Yedlin is facing up to two weeks out, which puts him right up against the Americans' crucial matches.

Yedlin has been dealing with this problem for a few weeks. He played through the injury on February 28 and was supposed to sit the following match, but had to come off the bench. That didn't help matters and he sat last week against Reading. Now Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez is predicting at least another week out, if not two.

"He had a knock, maybe has a small tear,” Benitez added.

If Yedlin is out for two more weeks, he will only be fit just before the U.S. take on Honduras on March 24. Aside from questions about his fitness and form at that point, Newcastle may not let him play for the Americans because of the injury. He would then also miss the March 28 trip to Panama.

Yedlin may be the Americans' first choice right back. It's tough to say because Bruce Arena just took over as manager, but he's in the mix and, before being hurt, had rounded into excellent form for Newcastle. Some observers had even called him the best right back in the Championship and his ability to get forward fits what Arena has said he wants from his fullbacks.

The U.S. desperately need to pick up points against Honduras and Panama after losing their first two matches of the final round of World Cup qualifying. If they can't take at least four points from the pair of contests, their chances of qualifying for the World Cup will take a real hit, but they may have to do it without Yedlin.

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