Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
In response to reports that U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Jermaine Jones was set for a six-week spell on the sidelines, Jones has released a statement through U.S. Soccer declaring himself available to play for both club and country.
“I have had some minor issues with my knee for a while, and the plan is to take care of it during the winter break,” Jones said in the statement. “Playing is obviously no problem. I will be in the team this weekend for the game against Augsburg and I’m ready to go for the National Team if I get called in.”
On Sunday, German publication BILD reported that Jones had been suspended from his club side FC Schalke 04’s next game, a UEFA Champions League match against FC Basel, due to poor form. In addition, the report stated that in response to the suspension, Jones had decided to go ahead and have surgery on his meniscus, which would have left him off the field for up to six weeks.
Less than 24 hours later, Jones sent out a tweet refuting the reports from BILD, and saying that “playing for Schalke is more important at the moment,” than surgery.
The news is likely a boost to USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who is likely already going to be without Michael Bradley in the middle of the field. Klinsmann and the next U.S. squad will begin to arrive in Kansas City on Sunday in advance of their World Cup qualifying match against Jamaica on October 11 at Sporting Park.
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What do you think of these developments? Happy to see Jones declare himself fit? Do you see Jones being part of the next USMNT squad?
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