One of the few players the U.S. Men’s National Team could ill afford to lose ahead of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama is officially off the roster due to an injury.
Fabian Johnson, who was injured in Borussia Monchengladbach’s UEFA Europa League match against Schalke on Thursday, was taken out of the 24-man squad on Friday with a hamstring injury. Johnson will be replaced by Graham Zusi.
Zusi is listed as a defender on the USMNT roster, which means he’ll be in contention to start at right back next Friday in San Jose against Honduras at Avaya Stadium.
Johnson is the second player to be removed from the squad since Wednesday’s roster announcement. David Bingham replaced Brad Guzan on Thursday so Guzan could be with his wife during the birth of his second child.