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Klinsmann cuts Agudelo, Morales, Williams, Zusi ahead of U.S. matches

Agudelo (Getty Images)

The U.S. men's national team's final 23 are on their way to Jacksonville.

Juan Agudelo, Alfredo Morales, Danny Williams and Graham Zusi are not among them, as the four were cut from the national team roster by coach Jurgen Klinsmann ahead of the team's upcoming five matches. 

Here is the 23-man roster for matches against Scotland, Brazil, Canada, Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala:

GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) 

DEFENDERS: Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland) 

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca) 

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Joe Corona is the only player among the 23 to make his first senior national team roster, and an appearance in one of the World Cup qualifiers would officially cap tie him to the United States. The same can be said for the 21-year-old Boyd, who is coming off his first cap in a friendly in Italy back in February.

Corona's club teammate, Castillo, returns for the first time since September, while Gomez also makes his return after a lengthy absence following a championship season with Santos Laguna.

As for the cuts, Williams was nursing a shoulder injury he suffered at the end of his season with Hoffenheim and was not fully fit. Agudelo just got dealt to Chivas USA and is working his way into his new club while finally getting extended minutes. Zusi was unable to distinguish himself in a crowd of central midfielders, and Morales, who can play in the midfield and defense, ultimately lost out to more experienced options ahead of him.

Agudelo and Zusi will be available for their respective clubs' games this weekend. Chivas hosts the Seattle Sounders Saturday night, while Sporting Kansas City hosts the San Jose Earthquakes.

"We have said from the beginning that these games are all about results, and we have chosen the 23 players who are in the best form right now and ready to get the job done," Klinsmann said in a U.S. Soccer release. "These guys have put in a tremendous amount of hard work in the last 10 days, and they are hungry to get started with the matches. We want to thank the players who have gone back to their clubs for all of their effort here. They are knocking on the door and will be ready to go if needed."

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