By DAN KARELL
After winning MVP honors on the back of 21 goals in his 11th Major League Soccer season, Mike Magee has finally received a coveted USMNT call-up.
Three days into the World Cup year, U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has named an MLS-heavy squad of 26 players set to take part in the annual January camp. The camp will run from Jan. 6-Feb. 1, with a 23-man roster traveling to Sao Paulo from Jan. 13-25 to test the World Cup facilities. The camp will close with a friendly match against South Korea on Feb. 1 at the StubHub Center.
With Mexican- and European-based players left off the roster, plenty of chances have been awarded to youngsters on the way up (Shane O’Neill, Luis Gil, DeAndre Yedlin) and veterans who have put in their time in MLS (Magee, Michael Harrington, Chance Myers).
Defending MLS champion Sporting Kansas City lead the group with five players in the squad, including Graham Zusi, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic, and Benny Feilhaber, in addition to Myers.
The only player on the roster playing outside of MLS is Mix Diskerud, who’s club Rosenborg is currently on its winter break.
In addition to O’Neill, Gil, and Yedlin, this camp represents the first call-ups for Harrington, Myers, Sinovic, Magee, and Chris Klute. Interestingly enough, of the six full backs called into the January camp, only Brad Evans has any previous USMNT experience.
Also of note, Benny Feilhaber parlayed his strong form in the MLS Cup playoffs into another call-up, while New York Red Bulls pair Dax McCarty and Eric Alexander make their return to the squad for the first time since Klinsmann became manager.
Here’s a closer look at the 2014 January camp USMNT roster:
2014 USMNT JANUARY CAMP ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (4): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (10): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Harrington (Portland Timbers), Chris Klute (Colorado Rapids), Chance Myers (Sporting Kansas City), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Seth Sinovic (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Eric Alexander (New York Red Bulls), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
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What do you think of this roster? Excited about the lineup possibilities with this group? Glad to see Magee earn a call-up? Who do you think missed out?
Share your thoughts below.