Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams finally return, Josh Sargent set to strike: Mauricio Pochettino announces 23-man roster ahead of CONCACAF Nation’s League finals

U.S. Soccer announced the final 23-man squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League finals. The USMNT will take on Panama first in the semifinal round on March 20, with either Mexico or Canada awaiting in the finale three days later.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad includes 16 players who have been a part of at least one Nations League final, including the return of both Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams, who are back in the squad after extended absences.

Adams joins the USMNT group for the first time since the Copa America, while Reyna returns for the first time since suffering a groin injury ahead of friendlies against Canada and New Zealand in September. Christian Pulisic returns for his fourth Nation's League Finals, while several MLS players who starred in the January camp - including Diego Luna and Patrick Agyemang - also made the roster.

GOALKEEPERS: Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace) 

DEFENDERS: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic) 

MIDFIELDERS: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon) 

FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Timothy Weah (Juventus), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps) 

Reyna and Adams are in for their first camps under Pochettino, as are Cameron Carter-Vickers and Marlon Fossey. Among the notable absences are Brenden Aaronson, Alejandro Zendejas and Brandon Vazquez, who were all left out of the squad.

Striker Josh Sargent, who is in incredible form for Norwich, leads the forward group, which will be without his two biggest rivals for that No. 9 spot: Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun, both of whom have battled injuries. He's joined by Agyemang and Brian White after both impressed during the annual January camp.

In defense, Fossey gets the opportunity to come in after impressing in the fall. Pochettino has leaned on a familiar group of centerbacks with Carter-Vickers, who he previously worked with at Tottenham, the only newcomer in that group. Carter-Vickers is joined by his club teammate, Auston Trusty, after starting alongside one another consistently at Celtic.

Yunus Musah is listed as a forward, which could indicate how Pochettino plans to use him. The midfield is lifted by the return of Adams, while Tanner Tessmann and Johnny Cardoso are options to play in a double pivot alongside the Bournemouth star. Weston McKennie has largely been used as a No. 10 recently with Juventus, although Luna, who stepped up in January camp, could also play that position - as could Reyna.

Six MLS-based players return from the USMNT’s January Camp: Agyemang, Luna, Tim Ream, Patrick Schulte, Zack Steffen and White.  

“This is a massive opportunity to win a trophy and that is our clear objective,” USMNT boss Pochettino said. “We must continue to show our quality, our bravery and our commitment."

The U.S. is the only team to have ever won the CONCACAF Nations League title in the tournament's short existence, winning each of the first three editions. Their quest for title No. 4 will begin this week after players conclude their final club matches ahead of the international break.

In total, 16 players have participated in at least one Nation's League Finals, with six having taken part in all three editions: McKennie, Musah, Pulisic, Reyna, Antonee Robinson and Tim Weah. McKennie leads all USMNT players with 16 Nations League appearances and, with six goals, is joint-leading scorer in the competition along with Pulisic.