Guess who's back?
Seattle Sounders forward Eddie Johnson revealed on Twitter on Friday night that he has been called up by the U.S. national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala.
Johnson sent out the following tweet on Friday night:
Thank you to the Seattle Sounders and my teammates family and friends for believing in me when everyone else didn't. #igotthecallupguys
If Johnson did indeed secure a national team call-up, it would mark his first time with the U.S. national team since he made a substitute's appearance in a scoreless draw against Colombia on Oct. 12, 2010, almost two years ago.
Johnson has enjoyed a career renaissance since joining the Sounders this season. He has compiled 15 goals and two assists for the Sounders this season, regaining the form that once made him a regular U.S. national team call-up.
Klinsmann may also be looking to call on Johnson's experience in World Cup qualifying. Johnson has scored eight goals in nine career World Cup qualifying matches, with seven of those goals coming during the qualifying cycle for the 2006 World Cup. One of those goal actually came against Guatemala, in a 2-0 win on March 30th, 2005 in Birmingham, Alabama. The U.S. faces Guatemala in the final qualifier of the current round, on Oct. 16th at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
If Johnson is being called in, it will be interesting to see who Klinsmann chooses to leave behind for the remaining qualifiers. Terrence Boyd has been on the bench for Rapid Vienna in recent matches after enjoying a fast start following his transfer from Borussia Dortmund so he could wind up being left out.
Klinsmann will formally announce the U.S. World Cup qualifying roster on Monday, when the team will convene in Miami for training camp ahead of Friday's qualifier against Antigua & Barbuda.
What do you think of this development? Excited to see Johnson back in the field? Think he has shown enough to merit another look? See him earning playing time in the upcoming qualifiers?
Share your thoughts below.