USMNT sent Tyler Adams ‘risk’ warning after big CONCACAF Nations League fitness gamble on midfielder with two substitute appearances in 12 months

The USMNT are facing questions of their Tyler Adams fitness gamble, with Jesse Marsch seeing “more to lose in this situation than there is to gain”.

Hamstring issues have held midfielder back
Limited game time at club level
Earned international recall for silverware shot

WHAT HAPPENED?
The 25-year-old midfielder, who has not represented his country since captaining them at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has been selected by Gregg Berhalter in his squad for the CONCACAF Nations League finals. That call has raised eyebrows, with Adams taking in just two substitute appearances over the course of the last 12 months.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE
He has left Leeds for Bournemouth, allowing him to remain in the Premier League, but has undergone two operations on troubling hamstring complaints. Adams will be short of match sharpness heading into a bid for major silverware, leading Marsch to suggest that he is a gamble that did not need to be taken.
WHAT MARSCH SAID ABOUT ADAMS
Marsch - who worked with Adams at Leeds, the New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig - has told CBS Sports’ ‘Call It What You Want’ podcast: "I don’t know if there’s a person on the earth that believes in Tyler more than I do, but I don’t know that there’s a lot to gain [from being on the roster]. I know he’s an important figure in the national team. He’s been out of competitive matches for I think almost a full year. … I just think there’s a lot more to lose in this situation than there is to gain now. Berhalter mentioned that he had a discussion with [head coach Andoni] Iraola at Bournemouth.
"I’m sure a big part of that discussion was, ‘What has it been like for Tyler? What does he look like? How comfortable are you with letting him go?’ I know if I were his club team coach, given the scenario, I would not have liked Tyler to leave the team and leave his rehabilitation program and his back-to-play program. But they made this decision, they think it’s what’s best for the team. I’m sure Tyler wants to be in the group. But again, what’s the risk and what’s the reward? That’s what I would ask."

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WHAT NEXT FOR ADAMS & THE USMNT?
Adams has spoken of his joy at being back in domestic and international folds, but he is a dice that did not need to be rolled by the USMNT. They have plenty of alternative options at their disposal and will want Adams to be firing on all cylinders by the time they open a Copa America tournament on home soil in July.

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WHAT HAPPENED?

THE BIGGER PICTURE

WHAT MARSCH SAID ABOUT ADAMS

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WHAT NEXT FOR ADAMS & THE USMNT?