USMNT: 5 MLS Players Who Deserve a Klinsmann Call-Up

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The MLS season is in full swing and there are plenty of Americans who have had breakout years so far. Some have even impressed enough to have fans mentioning their name in USMNT discussion.

While we have seen Jurgen Klinsmann experiment and give a lot of players opportunities with the National Team in the last year, there are still a few players worthy of a call-up by the head man.

Here are five MLS players who deserve their first call-up from Klinsmann in the next couple of months. Enjoy!

Jay Demerit

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Having played in the 2010 World Cup, Demerit is a USMNT veteran. But the American centre-back hasn’t yet earned a cap in the Klinsmann era despite being nothing short of fantastic since joining Vancouver last season.

Demerit has been solid all season long for the Whitecaps, but his brilliant 90-minute performance in the MLS All-Star game is really what got people questioning why he hasn’t been called up in a few years.

The backline of the USMNT seems to be changing every camp anyway, so why not give Demerit another shot?

Steven Beitashour

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The All-Star First XI right-back has the option to play for the USMNT or Iraqi National Team at the international level. That being said, Klinsmann should do everything he can to try and cap-tie the promising Beitashour, who has been outstanding all season long for the San Jose Earthquakes.

The U.S. is set momentarily with Steve Cherundolo at RB, but with the World Cup veteran slowly coming to the end of his career, a suitable successor needs to be found. Simply put, Steven Beitashour has done everything to at least have a chance to be that successor.

Brad Davis

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Many MLS fans across the league will speak of their admiration for the Dynamo star who has been pure class his whole career. He currently leads MLS in assists and led the league in that category in 2009 and 2011.

The technical winger has been a premier playmaker in the league for multiple years now, so why hasn’t he earned a call-up by Jurgen Klinsmann?

With Stuart Holden’s future still in doubt, the USMNT could use a guy like Davis curling the ball in on set pieces and helping create scoring opportunities for the forwards. Even with his age, Davis deserves another shot to make an impact with the national team.

Chris Pontius

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A year ago, if you had mentioned Pontius’ name in the USMNT discussion, you would surely have received a confused stare. However, after a phenomenal comeback season, the DC United man certainly has earned himself a look from Jurgen Klinsmann.

Pontius has nine goals this season and a .73 G/90 ratio on a DC team that is battling for first place in the Eastern Conference. He was also named the MLS All-Star game MVP after his phenomenal second-half performance against European champions Chelsea.

Whether it is next week or January, Pontius should represent the stars and stripes soon.

Eddie Johnson

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Eddie Johnson is back, everybody. It took Johnson a little while to get acclimated to MLS, but since return, he has done nothing but cause havoc in the attacking third and dominate opposing defenses.

From netting the game-winner in the MLS All-Star game to scoring six goals in the last seven games, it seems as though the E.J. of old has finally returned.

We are finally seeing glimpses of Eddie that made us so excited about him when he broke onto the USMNT scene eight years ago. Everyone deserves a second chance, and right now nobody deserves one more than Eddie Johnson.