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TGIF: Will Jermaine Jones ever get healthy?

Jermaine Jones (Reuters)

When Jermaine Jones declared six months ago that he wanted to play for the United States, American soccer fans had ever reason to be excited.

Jones was a highly-respected midfielder in the German Bundesliga and seemed like a perfect fit to slide into central midfield alongside Michael Bradley. It all made too much sense and seemed destined to happen sooner rather than later. At least before Jones' leg started to hurt.

Jones underwent surgery last summer for a hairline leg fracture, only the surgery to repair it made things worse. After having a metal plate removed from his leg, another surgery was supposed to resolve the pain issue Jones was dealing with. He returned to training with Schalke 04 last week only to have pain in the leg bother him again, thus cutting short his return.

Now, Jones is looking at a January return at the earliest, and we are suddenly faced with questions about whether he will have a chance to play for the United States at any point before U.S. coach Bob Bradley must name his 23-man World Cup roster.

As it stands, the only chance for Jones to make a U.S. debut would be March 3rd, when the United States is supposed to face the Netherlands, but given all his trouble recovering, will two months be enough time for him to get back in shape, establish himself as a player for Schalke again AND play himself into position for a U.S. national team start? And if he cannot return in time to play on March 3rd, will Bradley still consider him for a World Cup roster spot without him actually having played in any matches?

That might sound like a crazy proposition, but the reality is that Jones is that good. He is dominant defensive midfielder who could start for the United States if he could get back to the form that he enjoyed a year ago for Schalke. The only problem is that he needs to overcome this leg injury if he is going to have a serious chance to be on the World Cup team.

The U.S. team has other central midfield options to go along with Michael Bradley, including Benny Feilhaber, Ricardo Clark, Jose Francisco Torres and Maurice Edu when Edu makes his own complete recovery from knee surgery. While those are intriguing options, no player has stepped up to stake a serious claim to a position that seemed destined to be Jones before this myriad of injury issues.

At this point it isn't as if Bob Bradley is sitting around and waiting for Jones. He will continue to play his other options and see if any of them will step up. Feilhaber has shown signs of progress as a starter, while Edu will be an intriguing candidate once he returns to action for Glasgow Rangers. Clark looked to have a hold on the position after his impressive Confederations Cup showing, but he saw his performances fade in the fall.

That competition will have to go on without Jones for the foreseeable future. For now, all Jones and U.S. fans and coaches can do is wait and hope that Jones recovers so that he can at the very least have a chance to show that he is as good as advertised and was worth this lengthy wait.

Comments

  1. That just happened a few months ago, not a year ago. He played for Napoli’s Primavera team through the end of last season. He declined the loan just before the start of this season and decided to try to make it in MLS. He hasn’t been with any other club since.

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  2. Um, he’s been gone from them for about a year now, I believe. They offered him a loan deal to an Italian second division club and he declilned and decided to try his luck with another club, didn’t resign with Napoli.

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  3. In a way, not having Jones is a huge blow. In another, it’s about the best place on the field we could lose a top player. We have plenty of options, including Spector who isn’t often included in that discussion.

    That said, I think he should definitely be in if he’s healthy. This isn’t “Eurosnobbery”–he’s just that good. It’s kind of like talking about leaving Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, or Oguchi Onyewu off the roster if they were just recovering from an injury. (Admittedly, the fact that he could potentially not played a match does hurt his cause…not enough to leave him off, for me.)

    I really, really hope he finds his health and form. He could contribute in a big way to our 2010 campaign.

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  4. While I think Dolo and Spector are the best options within the US player pool for RB, both have had injury concerns more than once. With the USMNT having a fair number of key injuries it seems wise to look at prospects for cover everywhere. You hope they aren’t needed but plans B and C have to be thought out.

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  5. Right back is the least of our problems. I think left back is the real concern! (Bornstein (?!) or Bocanegra (decent but too slow for this position))

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  6. Since I’m in such a grumpy mood, may I ask if there’s a way around the weird comments system here? Retrieving the latest comments requires two clicks: refresh the page, then “show more comments.”

    It’s not efficient or reader friendly. And it just doesn’t make much sense: Who wants their own comment to be the last one visible? We want to read replies, not our own comment. We already know what we’ve said.

    (SBI-Is there a way around it? No. And who is “we” exactly? The voices in your head? ;-))

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  7. We may as pretty much well imagine that he won’t make it, that way if he does it’ll be a boost and if he doesn’t its business as usual. He would be a money option against England, would match up well against Gerrard. Too bad…

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  8. I disagree that they are the three most important players. Jones can’t be because he has never even played and we don’t know what he can bring to the table for the US team. Im not denying his talent, but we can’t say he is top 3.
    Donovan is are most important player and I believe Howard is our second and after that there are a few players in a mix for third that involves some of the injured players. But to say that those three guys are our most important players is a bit of a stretch.

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  9. Look, there’s no way around it: The USMNT is cursed. It really is. It seems like the only breaks soccer ever gets in this country are players’ bones, snapping right as the sport is poised to break out to the next level.

    With Davies, Gooch, Jones and Edu, we have injuries to our four most athletic players… right as the World Cup is finally generating genuine mainstream interest.

    It’s unbelievable, really. Kind of makes you want to pound your head against the wall and curse fate. I really don’t understand where all the bad karma comes from. Our soccer team hasn’t hurt anybody.

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  10. considering the best right backs in the world all seem to have a lot of “finesse”, and our players don’t have “finesse”, i don’t see why you’d think we’d be strong there. Those four things you mention? Well look at Alves or Maicon, and those things are not what make them great. I think you’re putting importance on the wrong things.

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  11. i know is my line of work (work comp insurance) that is is not uncommon for someone to hurt their other leg after surgery as they favor that leg that wasnt cut on

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  12. agreed, and if he is available to be present during any of the up coming matches verse N.Ireland (?) or the Dutch regardless of if he can play he should be in the camp getting assimilated with the squad.
    i guess thats up to the manager at Schalke..

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  13. If Jones does make it back healthy in time to suit up for the WC, he’d better not be given the #13 kit. There will only be ONE Jones-13 for the USMNT.

    Although if JJ is willing to grow some sick dreads, I might reconsider…

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  14. Yea, two failed surgeries….no surprise. The Germans know that there is a good chance that they will encounter the US in round of 16 of the World Cup.

    Im only half kidding haha

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  15. Felix, Jones is more than just a destroyer, he has very good attacking skills. No he is not Messi or Ronaldo, but he is very good. I know these are just highlights but if you watch you’ll see that his is more than just a hard tackler:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNjqyt9YVM

    Ives is right about him. If he is healthy and fit, he can upgrade our central midfield.

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  16. Does anyone get the idea that he may be actually further along than the article makes it seem and that Schalke is holding out…or that the German Football Association is still stinging over his affiliation switch so their throwing us off the trail…?

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  17. Except that Camp Cupcake is not in a FIFA window, and therefore, Shalke doesn’t and more than likely, won’t release him.

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  18. No, what I mean is would it be a violation of FIFA rules to put Jones on the roster knowing he wasn’t fully fit…only hoping he could be…and then if he can’t go, bring another mid in for him. Sounds sketchy, but may be a loophole worth looking into.

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  19. I know not for this WC but I was just wondering if anyone had heard anything about a club move for him or anything. Seems like he really shot himself in the foot by not staying with Napoli…

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  20. not even worth discussing. He’s got an italian passport, but he can’t even find a team right now, he’s been out of contract since the summer I believe. He’s had some flashes and stil might become a player for the US (I’ve heard him say he wants to play for the US) but right now it’s not worth discussing, he’s a non issue

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  21. Here’s a question…unrelated to Jones…does anyone know the status of Vincenzo Bernardo? I know he’s a free agent looking for a club, but what is his status with the USMNT or the youth teams?

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  22. Right–so if he proves he is healthy and is playing regularly in the Bundesliga by the end of the season then Bob should take him. Even if he misses the March 3rd game he can have those pre-World Cup matches in May to integrate into the team.

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  23. It’s hard to say what’s going on with Jones. With all the healthcare privacy laws, there just isn’t enough information out there to form a reasonable opinion. What anybody other than his doctors have to say would only be conjecture.

    As for a healthy US side, DeMerit is already back, so one down. Oneywu should be back by April, possibly sooner, which would give him 2-3 months to train and get game fit, so that SHOULD BE OK. I think having Davies back would be a longshot. Even if he finishes rehab before this summer, it would be very close, and leaves essentially no time to get game fit. By game fit, I mean the opportunity to see time on the pitch and re-establish ball touch, run timing, etc.

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  24. What is the FIFA rule about injury alternates, is it only if a player gets injured during the tournament that they can pick up another…or could they put a half-healthy Jones on the roster, but add another if he can’t go?

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  25. You talk like Jones has been a staple of our midfield like Reyna was…he is good and we need him…but he hasn’t played a game. We made it into the WC without him and while it would be nice to have him and I hope we do, this isn’t a “devastating injury” to the chemistry of the team.

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  26. Is there a doctor in the house!?

    My high school soccer coach used to tell us it takes the body 3 months to reach peak physical condition. He seemed to be right as we always got into the end of the season, we’d run longer runs which were easier.

    Anyone with a medical background who can chime in?

    Worst than getting in shape will be getting his touch on the ball back. He’ll be out 7 months if he starts training in 4 weeks. which would be a fast recovery. He’ll be lucky to play in a World Cup game in my opinion.

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  27. I’m not a doctor, but I did stay in a Holiday Express last night. Jones’ post-surgical pain is not unusual. He will have some setbacks along the way, and the pain may be chronic, but he should return to playing fitness. Or not.

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  28. Looking at the FIFA calender, all WC players have to be released by May 16, with a mandatory 7 day rest period. That would only allow 10 days or so for matches before leaving for SA. And keep in mind, he would have to already be named to the roster. Not sure thats going to be an option.

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  29. I thought you were talking about Edu. Beasley wants out. Edu is getting back into game shape and he has been training with Rangers again.

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  30. I agree that even if Jones is not able to play a friendly in March but can get healthy shortly after, he should be on the squad. There will be a game in May anyway. I also believe it would be great if he could go to the U.S. and meet the coaching staff and also see the team doctor informally. Winter break, I believe, was one and a half months long, but it has been shortened. I believe it is from December 21 to January 15. Schalke 04 cannot tell him where he can or not go on vacation. I am optimistic that he will be back by April or May. If sooner, that is even better.

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  31. What seems to be the big problem? He was injured, is still injured and may be back in action next month. What is a few more weeks at this point? Really not that big of a deal in my opinion. We don’t have any friendlies slated for the rest of December, we have Camp Cupcake next month that he will most assuredly be invited to attend. He will meet the players, coaches, and do some rehab.

    He needs game to integrate with our WC squad, agreed. He will get a few, prove his upside is enormous, and make the WC squad even being 50% matchfit. My realistic expectation is to see him in action for the U.S. both before and during the World Cup.

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