Zack Steffen returns to the US national team in Mauricio Pochettino’s first lineup

CHICAGO (AP) — Mauricio Pochettino’s first lineup as coach of the United States national team brought back goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who was released under Gregg Berhalter.

Midfielder Gianluca Busio was the other notable addition to the 25-man roster announced Wednesday for friendlies against Panama on Oct. 12 in Austin, Texas and Mexico three days later in Guadalajara.

Defenders Antonee Robinson and Miles Robinson and midfielder Weston McKennie were signed after being released from the September games to remain at their clubs.

Goalkeeper Diego Kochen and defender Caleb Wiley were released.

Injured players who will miss the matches include defenders Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards and Cameron Carter-Vickers, and midfielder Tyler Adams.

Pochettino was hired on September 10 and became the tenth US coach in 14 years and the first foreign leader since Jurgen Klinsmann between 2011 and 2016.

Steffen, Matt Turner, Ethan Horvath and Patrick Schulte are the goalies on the lineup.

Steffen started six of the 14 World Cup qualifiers, with Turner in goal in the other eight. Steffen was surprisingly omitted from the 2022 World Cup squad and has not played for the national team since the final qualifiers in March 2022, although he was on the bench in CONCACAF Nations League matches in March 2023.

Steffen, 29, has made 29 international appearances and started all 31 Major League Soccer games for Colorado this season after playing just two Premier League games in 4 1/2 seasons during his contract with Manchester City.

Turner lost his starting role at Nottingham Forest last season, was loaned to Crystal Palace in August and has not played this season. Ethan Horvath has not played for Cardiff since August 31st.

Schulte started last month against Canada and Turner started against New Zealand under interim coach Mikey Varas. Steffen and Turner are among four MLS players on the roster.

Busio, 22, helped Venezia gain promotion to Serie A this season and played for the USA at the Paris Olympics. He played for the USA in the 2021 and 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cups, when a second-tier lineup was used.

The list:

Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Cardiff), Patrick Schulte (Columbus), Zack Steffen (Colorado), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)

Defenders: Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic) ). )

Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Weston McKennie (Juventus) Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards: Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich), Timothy Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry)

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