USMNT Stock Watch: Red-hot Jozy Altidore trending up, injured Tyler Adams down

We’re well into April now, which means that United States men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter only has a few more weeks to assess and evaluate potential roster options before naming a 23-man squad for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, the first meaningful competition for the new USMNT boss.

With time running short, which players have helped (or hurt) their chances of getting a call — or for serious minutes during the regional championship — based on recent performances for their club teams? Which promising youngsters are making a case for consideration down the road? Let’s take a quick look.

Trending up

F Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC (MLS)

The 29-year-old has three goals in three games since returning from offseason ankle surgery, including this strike on Saturday against the Chicago Fire:

Takeaway: With Berhalter expected to name his Gold Cup roster next month, Altidore, still rightly the Americans’ first-choice striker — and by some distance over understudy Gyasi Zardes — is rounding into form and fitness at exactly the right time.

M Weston McKennie, Schalke (Germany)

McKennie retuned to training on Monday for he first time since spraining his ankle playing for the U.S. in last month’s friendly win over Ecuador.

Takeaway: The 20-year-old Texan’s recovery has gone faster than expected as McKennie was initially feared out for the remainder of the Bundesliga season. Getting in a few matches with Schalke before the Gold Cup would be huge for the U.S., which will rely heavily on its all-action midfielder throughout the tournament.

F Tim Weah, Celtic (Scotland)

With the Hoops playing three games in the week between March 31 and April 6, Weah took advantage of a rare start (his first under new manager Neil Lennon and just his second since joining Celtic on a six-month loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January) by scoring midweek against St. Mirren:

Takeaway: The fact that Weah, 19, didn’t get called in for the March matches probably doesn’t bode well for his Gold Cup chances. Don’t be surprised if Berhalter, USMNT general manager Earnie Stewart and U.S. under-20 boss Tab Ramos decide that having Weah start every March at next month’s FIFA U-20 World Cup would better serve the speedy Brooklyn native’s long-term development.

D Greg Garza, Cincinnati FC (MLS)

Now fully recovered from the quad injury that forced him out of the USMNT’s January camp, left back Garza has gone the distance in FCC’s last three games after a pair of appearances off the bench last month.

Takeaway: If he stays healthy, Garza could get the Gold Cup nod over Daniel Lovitz, who backed up apparent first choice Tim Ream last month.

F Sebastian Soto, Hannover (Germany)

The 18-year-old out of Los Angeles made his surprise Bundesliga debut over the weekend, playing 11 minutes off the bench in Hannover’s 3-1 loss to John Brooks and Wolfsburg.

Takeaway: He’s not in contention for a Gold Cup call-up. But Soto’s cameo is a promising development nonetheless, as he becomes the sixth American player under the age of 21 to play in the German top flight this season. He’s also the youngest after Christian Pulisic, who earned his first minutes at 17.

Trending down

M Tyler Adams, RB Leipzig (Germany)

Adams has missed Leipzig’s last two games with an adductor injury.

Takeaway: Details on the severity of the ailment have been scarce, but the main worry here is that Adams, 20, is beginning to break down a bit after playing virtually non-stop — first for the New York Red Bulls, then for their sister club in the Bundesliga — since January of 2018.

D Nick Lima, San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)

Lima, one of the biggest winners from Berhalter’s first camp, has lost his starting spot under new Quakes coach Matias Almeyda.

Takeaway: It’s not great news for the 24-year-old, although not playing in the 5-0 loss to LAFC on March 30 was probably a blessing. Lima did come on for the final 21 minutes of San Jose’s 3-0 win over Portland on Saturday.

M Josh Sargent, Werder Bremen (Germany)

Sargent has been an unused sub in three of Bremen’s last four games and didn’t make the bench for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach. He has played just six first-team minutes since February.

Takeaway: For all his undeniable talent, it’s hard to see Berhalter picking the inexperienced 19-year-old striker for the Gold Cup without a significant uptick in playing time over the final month of Werder’s season.

F Bobby Wood, Hannover (Germany)

A knee issue has kept Wood, who has just three goals in 20 Bundesliga appearances this season, sidelined since March 3.

Takeaway: With his club destined to be relegated for a second consecutive season and Wood on a year-long loan from second-tier Hamburg, there’s little incentive for Hannover to rush the combative striker back. Could an MLS move be in the cards over the summer? Maybe, but it won’t come before the Gold Cup, leaving Wood facing an uphill battle to make the 23-man squad even if he gets heathy.

Doug McIntyre covers soccer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

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