'It was very difficult' - Fulham star Antonee Robinson glad to return to USMNT despite still not being 100 percent physically

The injury, Robinson said, occurred last fall. During one of the USMNT's friendlies, he sustained a "dead leg" on the top of his knee. That ended up splitting his tendon, leading to severe pain beginning in November. He played through the rest of the season with Fulham, but wasn't deemed fit enough for March's Nations League Finals and, ultimately, the Gold Cup after undergoing surgery.

Last week, when Mauricio Pochettino unveiled his latest USMNT roster, Robinson's name was on it for the first time this year, signaling his long-awaited national team return. He isn't fully fit, though, and Pochettino acknowledged that his minutes will need to be managed this camp.

So far this season, Robinson has played 90 minutes just once. Otherwise, he's come off the bench for cameos as Fulham look to rebuild his fitness. As a result, he's yet to rediscover his form after emerging as one of the Premier League's best fullbacks during the first few months of last season.

"I'm still getting used to post-surgery," he said. "I'm doing all right. I've been in full training and been in full contention to play matches back at Fulham. I had a few spells coming on here and there and played 90 minutes in a cup game and got through it pretty well. I'm still not feeling 100 percent on it or how it felt a year ago before the injury first happened, but I'm getting there slowly."

While the physical side of the injury was challenging, so, too, was the mental component. Robinson was able to finish the season with Fulham, but he had to watch as the USMNT lost at both the Nations League and Gold Cup.

"It was really difficult, to be honest, especially because we had some disappointments this year with not winning the Nations League and the Gold Cup," he said. "They're trophies that we take pretty seriously, so not being able to bring them home was disappointing. The fact that you have to watch and can't contribute, I'd always rather be here and be the one taking responsibility on the field, win or lose, then to have to watch and not help out

"Mentally, it's been nearly a year away from the national team after not missing too many camps and being with the national team for so long. It was very difficult."

The USMNT will face Ecuador on Friday in Austin before then hosting Australia on Tuesday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids.