USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams 'almost there' in injury return, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola confirms

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola confirmed Friday that USMNT star Tyler Adams is nearing full-strength after undergoing back surgery in July.

The U.S. midfielder played in all three games at Copa America 2024, but after their elimination, he shared that he needed to undergo the surgery to play through the entirety of the Premier League season.

"Tyler will not be fit for the Leicester game but he's almost there," Iraola said to media on Friday. "He's going to train fully with the team during the international break."

The Cherries next match will be on Oct. 19 against Arsenal, where there is a chance he will make his season debut.

After arriving via transfer last summer from Leeds United, the 25-year-old nearly lost the entirety of his debut campaign due to injury. He arrived at the Vitality Stadium with a hamstring injury, but was forced to undergo surgery in the fall campaign for the second time in the calendar year after making one appearance off the bench for the Cherries in a Cup match.

After returning to the pitch in the Spring, he missed the final stretch of the season with back spasms, resulting in his mid-summer surgery after Copa America.

As a result of his injuries, Adams has only played five matches for the Cherries since his summer arrival in 2023. During that span, he's accumulated just 138 minutes on the pitch in competitive matches.

The Cherries clash with Leicester City Saturday in Premier League action, looking for their second-straight victory in the regular season. The USMNT, meanwhile, are set to play Panama and Mexico in mid-October in a pair of international friendlies.

Adams won't partake in the matches, but per Iraola, could appear for Bournemouth in late October.