By IVES GALARCEP
SEATTLE- As Jermaine Jones laid prone, and apparently unconscious, on the field at Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica after colliding heads on a set piece, it was clear his night was over in Friday’s World Cup qualifying win vs. Jamaica. It should also have been pretty clear that four days was not enough time for Jones to recover from a clear-cut concussion.
Jones revealed on Sunday what most suspected, that he will not play in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup qualifier vs. Panama on Tuesday. Jones revealed the news on Twitter.
U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann appeared to leave the door open for Jones to play on Saturday night when he said Jones was still set to undergo tests on Monday to determine the possibility of playing, but Jones put that notion to rest on Sunday.
Now, with Jones definitely out, the U.S. will head into Tuesday’s match needing to replace two starters. Graham Zusi is also set to miss the match due to yellow card accumulation.
What remains unclear now is whether Jones will be able to recover from his concussion in time for the team’s June 18th match vs. Honduras.
What do you think of this development? Who would you like to see start in Jones’ place vs. Panama?
Share your thoughts below.