Tyler Adams will have to play an important role for the U.S. men’s national team later this month in World Cup Qualifying, but first he will have to overcome a slight injury at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Adams did not take part in group training on Wednesday due to back pain, putting his status in question for this weekend’s league match against Greuther Furth. The 23-year-old midfielder did train individually which is a positive sign for both RB Leipzig and the USMNT as a busy March schedule continues.
Adams has dressed in each of the last two matches for RB Leipzig, but did not feature in a 4-0 German Cup win over Hannover or a 1-1 league draw with Freiburg over the past week. His last appearance for the German club came on Feb. 27, playing 59 minutes from the start in a 1-0 victory over Bochum.
Despite starting in two of the USMNT’s three qualifying matches last window, Adams has found playing time tough to come by at RB Leipzig since the start of February. He’s only started two of seven possible matches, totaling 115 minutes over that span.
Adams’ presence in the USMNT roster this month will be important following Weston McKennie’s season-ending injurt at Juventus. Gregg Berhalter’s side sits in second place in the octagonal round standings, but will face Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica in their final window of matches with all three teams directly behind them in the race for a top-three finish.
RB Leipzig is riding a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions and will face Greuther Furth and Eintracht Frankfurt before the international break in the final week of March.