El Tri Watch: Liga MX Players Poised to Make a Good Impression vs. United States

Miguel Herrera is ready to play his second match against the United States since he took over El Tri, and as it happened a year ago, he will only have Liga MX players on the squad.

This is a great opportunity to take a closer look to some of the local league footballers and determine if they can tackle the challenge and eventually join Mexico in this summer's tournaments.

Up-and-Coming

El Piojo capped 10 defenders for this game, and the reason is pretty obvious.

Mexico have had a terrible time in the back line. The absence of Rafael Marquez has hurt the squad deeply, while Hector Moreno didn't seem too comfortable against Ecuador.

So Herrera needs to start trying out local players. One of them is George Corral, who received his first call-up last November but returned quickly from Europe due to injury.

The Queretaro footballer has shown a lot of strength, but he needs to work on keeping the ball a little bit longer.

Another player who has been catching attention is Luis Rodriguez. The Chiapas right-back is a tough defender but also a valuable asset when he joins the attack.

Rodriguez can play in the back line or in the midfield with the same success; therefore, his flexibility sets him apart from most of the Liga MX defenders.

One of the youngsters who has shone the most this season is Carlos Salcedo. The 21-year-old arrived in Chivas after two years in MLS (Real Salt Lake).

With Guadalajara, Salcedo has put the ball away once. His aerial game is sharp, while his fine touch has been instrumental in distributing the ball accurately.

One of the most expected appearances is Jurgen Damm's. The Pachuca footballer couldn't start against Paraguay due to an ankle injury but is now ready to face the USMNT.

Damm's speed and dribbling skills set him as a versatile player who can finish plays or create them easily. He can appear in the defense or in the midfield.

Finally, we have Marco Bueno. The Toluca forward made the list because Oribe Peralta suffered a muscle strain, per El Universal.

Bueno was part of the U17 squad that secured the World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in 2011. During the tournament, he appeared in every match and scored once.

His club career has been tough. Bueno arrived in Toluca as a loanee. He didn't get much playing time in his first tournament, but in the 2015 Clausura he has started nine games and has a total tally of two goals, his best record since 2012.

Comebacks

For the first time since El Piojo took over, we won't see Guillermo Ochoa, Alfredo Talavera or Jesus Corona in the squad. 

Jonathan Orozco has the chance to play with the Mexico A-team for the first time in three years. In 2013 he appeared in the Gold Cup, but Jose Manuel de la Torre took the B-team for that competition.

Orozco is one of the most consistent goalkeepers of the league. He has been playing with Monterrey since 2004, when he made his professional debut.

There's also Cirilo Saucedo, another veteran and a superb goalie. He was instrumental in helping Tijuana secure the 2012 Apertura tournament.

He has become a standard-bearer for Xolos since they arrived in the first division. This season he has appeared 13 times and made 49 saves, per Fox Sports.

In the defense, Gerardo Flores is set to reappear with El Tri since De la Torre left the squad. The Cruz Azul right-back knows Herrera from his time in Monterrey, so he is familiar with the coach's system.

And speaking of Rayados, Hiram Mier is finally in shape and could very well appear as a centre-back in Herrera's 5-3-2 formation.

Mier has been regarded as one of the most promising defenders of the local league ever since he played for Mexico U23 in 2012, but several knee injuries have sidelined him.

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

The Monterrey defender isn't the only one who has missed a bunch of games with El Tri.

Leon midfielder Luis Montes suffered a terrible fracture just days before Mexico's debut at the 2014 World Cup.

Luckily, El Chapito is back on track. He has played eight Liga MX matches so far, four as a starter and four as a sub. He has also scored twice.

All stats appear courtesy of Squawka and MedioTiempo unless otherwise noted.

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