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The new year is off to a quick start for the United States Men’s National Team, with Mauricio Pochettino leading his first camp for the national team in January. With the chance to spend time with younger domestic players in the national team pool, the Argentine will get a good idea of the depth of the USMNT. It’s been a whirlwind since he was officially hired in September, but the USMNT have advanced to the semifinals of the Conacacaf Nations League with a chance to win their fourth straight title in the competition.
If Pochettino is going to do that, he will need a mix of the USMNT returning to health, with Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent, Aidan Morris and Haji Wright all injured, but he will also need to see improvement from some of the players in the squad. . Heading into the new year, here are a few players he’ll be keeping an eye on.
RB Sergino Dest (PSV)
After missing the Copa America with an ACL tear, Sergino Dest has been out of the mix for both PSV and the national team, but he will be back in action in 2025. While Dest has been out, Joe Scally has become a regular at right-back, showing he can contribute to the national team at a grassroots level, and Antonee Robinson has seen his role grow at left-back. Robinson is establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s left-backs and is also taking on a new role under Pochettino. By turning over possession he has taken on more attacking responsibility, leading to questions about how Dest will be used when he returns. It’s a good problem to have, as depth has been an issue for the USMNT, but Dest’s return at even near full strength will be a boon to the USMNT’s upside.
MID Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)
Aidan Morris’ injury came at an inopportune time for both Middlesbrough and the national team as he has been in good form for his club and shown what he can do on the international stage. Building on a strong Olympic campaign to break into the senior ranks, Morris has been able to learn while performing consistently under Michael Carrick in a physical competition. Growth can be seen with the move from the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer to the Championship. Morris is able to turn defense into attack with his vision and passing skills, and is a player who will thrill under Pochettino’s progressive style in 2025.
FWD Tim Weah (Juventus)
In 2024, Tim Weah had an up-and-down season, being moved from wing to forward at Juventus under Thiago Motta and receiving a critical red card during the Copa America with the USMNT, which was the beginning of the end for Gregg Berhalter. He also battled an injury that caused him to miss time. But on the pitch, Weah was electric, helping to create space and create key attacking opportunities wherever he stood. Under Pochettino, Weah started on the left side of the attack for the first time, pushing Christian Pulisic into the center and helping produce the best 45 minutes of football the USMNT played in 2024, raising the bar for 2025. It is not known which wing Weah will continue to progress, but currently he is a key member of the USMNT’s best XI, which will produce exciting football in 2025.
DEF Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
While most of the talk is about who will replace Tim Ream in defence, a player must also show that he deserves to replace Ream. The 37-year-old central defender knows what he can and cannot do, has a relationship with Antonee Robinson and is usually in the right position. While Pochettino wants to see what other members of the XI can do, it is also his job to pick the team that has the best chance of winning for the USMNT. Right now that team involves Ream and one of the biggest questions of 2025 is how long that will remain the case. Ream does his part to make the decision difficult.
The peak group
This feels like a broken record, but it is yet another year without a clear picture of the striker. Ricardo Pepi has been great at PSV and for the national team, but it is difficult to judge his performance until he starts consistently. It’s different coming into a match from the bench than playing with new legs from the start, and it also wears differently on your body. Sargent and Balogun are both injured, so it will be crucial to see how their performances are after they recover, while the situation of other attackers in the group is uncertain. Brandon Vazquez was in and out of the XI for Monterrey and Jesus Ferreira could move to the Seattle Sounders. It’s a time when someone in the player pool is needed to step up to the challenge for the starting nine role.