Which goalkeeper will start for the USMNT in World Cup qualifying?
Zack Steffen has been dealing with back and shoulder injuries but was available in Manchester City's scoreless draw against Crystal Palace.
The United States men’s national team's head coach, Gregg Berhalter, has been losing sleep over the goalkeeper situation with the World Cup qualifiers in CONCACAF around the corner. Matt Turner, who has started the last three games for the USMNT, has missed the opening three games with New England Revolution in MLS due to an ankle injury.
It has been confirmed that Turner will be out for a couple of weeks and will miss the United States' next three games, against Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica. The good news for Berhalter is that Zack Steffen was available for Manchester City for the first time in a month in the scoreless draw against Crystal Palace on Monday.
Who will be the starter for the USMNT?
Steffen has been the starting goalkeeper since Berhalter took over the job in 2018, but this season the 26-year-old has been dealing with back and shoulder injuries. The City keeper missed the last three qualifying games with the United States, but it seems that he has fully recovered and is available to play.
The bad news is that the last time the United States international played a match was on 5 February in the FA Cup against Fulham. Steffen is Ederson’s backup and he has only made seven appearances across all competitions for the Premier League side.
If healthy, Berhalter will start Steffen for the upcoming game against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on 24 March. But if he is not called up, the USMNT boss could use Nottingham Forest's Ethan Hovarth or New York City FC's Sean Johnson.