Suspended Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones is joining the U.S. training camp ahead of exhibition games against Venezuela and Panama.
Jones was suspended for eight weeks on Jan. 5 by Germany's soccer federation, which concluded he intentionally stepped on an opponent's foot. He cannot appear in any competitive or exhibition matches for Schalke until March 1.
Jones, who has made 14 appearances for the U.S., is to join the American training camp Saturday at Carson, Calif.
''Obviously this is a very difficult moment for Jermaine,'' American coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Friday. ''He regrets the incident and has apologized to the player, his coaches and his teammates. He respects the decision of the German federation and accepts the punishment.''
The U.S., mostly with players from Major League Soccer, plays Venezuela on Jan. 21, then is at Panama four days later.
''While an unfortunate situation, it provides me the opportunity to call him in and continue to get him integrated with our system as we prepare the team for qualifying this summer,'' Klinsmann said. ''I have spoken with the coach at Schalke and Jermaine, and we all agree this is what's best.''
