USA vs. Honduras: Team USA Must Develop Young Leadership

There might be nothing better for the United States men's national soccer team than having to play without some of their key leaders, especially Landon Donovan.

This is an extremely vital time for the team, so every little lesson they can squeeze out of the time they play together is valuable.

Be it in practice, a friendly or in an actual competition, there is no doubt that the United States men's team has the potential to be very good.

They have a new coach in former German national team player Juergen Klinsmann and a very young and talented core.

They also have a few wily old veterans that seem to hold everything together, Donovan being one of them.

In fact, holding the team together is quite an understatement when describing Donovan's importance to the team.

He is the heartbeat of this squad.

Landon Donovan has been the centerpiece and leader of United States men's soccer for a long time now, and for good reason.

He's arguably one of the better players in the world, and there is no doubt that he is one of the most composed.

If there's ever a big moment that needs stepping up to, Donovan is the guy that will be there for the U.S. 

If there was ever a calming figure that represented his team, sport and country, it would be Donovan.

That's why it's a huge blow to hear that Donovan will be missing some time due to injury, according to the Associated Press via the Washington Post:

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Forward Landon Donovan will miss upcoming U.S. matches against Honduras and Ecuador because of a strained right quadriceps.

Edson Buddle will replace Donovan on the roster.

Donovan was hurt over the weekend in an MLS match, when he helped the Los Angeles Galaxy top Real Salt Lake 2-1. The Galaxy said Donovan was to receive treatment in Los Angeles for the quad strain and that he would miss the U.S. matches “in order to completely recover from the injury.”

The U.S. team will begin training Tuesday in South Florida for Saturday night’s match against Honduras. It plays Ecuador in Harrison, N.J. on Oct. 11.

Donovan has scored 46 goals in 138 appearances with the U.S. national team. Buddle has made seven appearances, scoring twice.

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As much as this hurts to hear, perhaps it will actually be a good thing for Team USA in the long run.

Think about it, as great as Donovan has been, eventually he's going to have to move on with his life. I'm sure he want's to play international soccer forever, but his time as USA's mainstay is slowly but surly coming to an end.

United States soccer as we know it can't just fold because Donovan isn't on the roster anymore.

Perhaps it's time for some young players to step up.

Perhaps it's time to see what the future of United States soccer holds, and what kind of leadership this team will possess.

It's never good when you lose your star player, but if there is a silver lining it's that now the United States will get a chance to see what young leadership they can develop for the future.