US Men's National Team: 10 Players To Watch in the Next 2 Friendlies

Yesterday, United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann unveiled his roster for the upcoming friendlies with Costa Rica and Belgium next week.

Some surprise moves were made by Klinsmann, who decided to leave out Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones from the roster and bring in more MLS talent to the national team.

Also, Fabian Johnson joins the Americans as the Hoffenheim player will make his debut as well as Timmy Chandler, who was selected for the Mexico match but could not make it due to issues with his club, Nuremburg.

The face of American soccer is definitely changing and here are 10 players who will have an impact on these next two friendlies.

Jozy Altidore

Altidore has found a perfect fit at the club level with AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie and has been scoring almost every week for the Dutch club.

The 21-year-old forward has scored five goals in five games in the Eredivisie and Europa League including two two-goal performances in the past week.

Altidore will most likely get the start up front with either Juan Agudelo or Teal Bunbury in both games as he is the forward in the best form right now.  

Fabian Johnson

The German-born player has decided to represent the United States, mainly thanks to Klinsmann naming him in the roster for these two games.

Johnson is listed as a defender but was selected to national team side as a midfielder so the Hoffenheim player will most likely play some type of defensive midfield position.

This will be the first time most Americans, including myself, will get to see Johnson play so it will interesting to see what type of impact he has on the team.

Timmy Chandler

It is looking like Klinsmann is lining up Chandler as the successor to Steve Cherundolo at right-back.

After the whole saga that kept Chandler from playing against Mexico, his club has finally let him go play for the national team.

Like Johnson, many American fans who do not watch the lower-level clubs in the Bundesliga, it will be their first real chance to see their right-back of the future.

Brek Shea

Brek Shea is slowly becoming the next American young star.

Shea has made a huge impact on FC Dallas this season and it has shown with another call-up to the national team; he already has three caps to his name.

Not only does he have the height, at 6'3", to help in the box on set pieces, but his effort is by far one of the best I have seen in a while.

In just a few matches that I have seen Shea play in, his willingness to go after every ball and his ability to not give up on rebounds has started to garner interest from European clubs.

Kyle Beckerman

The 29-year-old Real Salt Lake midfielder was reintroduced to the American squad against Mexico last month and it looks like he is Klinsmann's plans for the foreseeable future.

With Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones out of the roster in the center of midfield, Beckerman is most likely fighting for a starting spot in both matches.

Beckerman and Maurice Edu could possibly be the center midfield pair American fans see for a while if Bradley and Jones do not see playing time at the club level and continue to be ignored by Klinsmann because of that issue.

Sacha Kljestan

Kljestan has played for Anderlecht in Belgium for the past season and has a good feel for how the Belgians play the game.

It just so happens that the United States are playing Belgium on September 6th and it may be an added bonus that the 25-year-old midfielder has some experience against some of the opposition, especially phenom Romelu Lukaku, who he saw in training every day for the past year before he left for Chelsea.

Teal Bunbury

As one of the four forwards named to the American roster, Bunbury will no doubt get some playing time in the upcoming friendlies.

Bunbury has helped lead Sporting Kansas City up to second place in the Eastern Conference of MLS and was rewarded for his success with a call-up back to the national team.

Bunbury is a part of a young group of forwards that could have an impact for a long time to come, as long all the players stay healthy.

Clarence Goodson

The captain of Brondby in Denmark will be paired with national team captain Carlos Bocanegra and the two will have a tough task ahead of them next week.

With some very speedy forwards up ahead for Goodson to face in the next friendlies, he will have to be at his best.

Against Costa Rica, he most likely face Bryan Ruiz and then it does not get any easier with Romelu Lukaku and Moussa Dembele from Belgium.

This will be a perfect situation for Goodson to impress Klinsmann and secure a permanent spot in the German's lineup.

Tim Howard

The Everton goalkeeper is the last line of defense for the Americans and he may be needed more than usual next week.

Costa Rica and especially Belgium pose a great attacking threat and will threaten the American goal numerous times throughout the match.

Howard is usually a very consistent keeper for the national team, but will the Gold Cup loss against a speedy and talented Mexico be a preview of how he will be affected by both countries (especially Belgium)?

Clint Dempsey

Dempsey is the best American player out there and really does help the flow of the midfield and their passing to the forwards.

After missing the Mexico match to focus on the start of the Premier League season with Fulham, Dempsey is making his first appearance under Klinsmann in the national team and will be utilized the right way whether it is up front or on the wing.

Dempsey also provides a veteran presence in a squad that features some young players and some players that have not played at the international level in a while.