Donovan Off US Roster For Scotland, Austria
CHICAGO (AP) Landon Donovan has been left off the U.S. roster for exhibition games at Scotland and Austria because of a lingering ankle injury.
Donovan played poorly against Jamaica in a World Cup qualifier Oct. 11 and was dropped for the match at Panama four days later. While he returned to the field for the Los Angeles Galaxy on Oct. 20 and appeared in all three of the team's playoff games, he did not score any goals.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defenders Edgar Castillo and Clarence Goodson also are hurt and were not included in the 23-man group announced Monday by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Defender Eric Lichaj was selected for the first time since Jurgen Klinsmann became coach. Lichaj has not played for the U.S. since the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
The Americans play Scotland on Friday at Glasgow and Austria on Nov. 19 at Vienna.
Potential conflicts for Seattle's Clint Dempsey, Brad Evans and Eddie Johnson and the Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez were eliminated when their teams were knocked out of Major League Soccer's playoffs last week
"The results in MLS wound up fitting in with our roster plans, so we didn't need to call in any guys who are still in the playoffs," Klinsmann said. "There are some injury issues that now give other players the chance to step up."
Midfielder Brek Shea was included despite making just two appearances for Stoke this season, both in the League Cup.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (D.C.), Tim Howard (Everton, England), Sean Johnson (Chicago)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla, Mexico), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Geoff Cameron (Stoke, England), Brad Evans (Seattle), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest, England), Michael Orozco (Puebla, Mexico)
Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes, France), Michael Bradley (Roma, Italy), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg, Norway), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim, Germany), Jermaine Jones (Schalke, Germany), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht, Belgium), Brek Shea (Stoke, England)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland, England), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna, Austria), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Eddie Johnson (Seattle), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose)
