Donovan ruled out for upcoming U.S. games
Landon Donovan, one of the faces of the U.S. men's national soccer team, will miss the squad's upcoming World Cup qualifying matches due to a left knee injury.
Another U.S. midfielder, Brek Shea, also will be sidelined. He has an abdominal injury.
The two had been selected to the 24-man squad that is training this week in Miami in advance of regional semifinal qualifying matches Friday at Antigua & Barbuda and Oct. 16 against Guatemala in Kansas City, Kan. No new players will be added to the available pool, U.S. Soccer announced.
Donovan was hurt Saturday while playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy, but he traveled to Miami to attempt to train with the U.S. team. According to U.S. Soccer, he was due to return to Los Angeles late Tuesday to be examined by Galaxy team doctors.
Donovan, 30, is the U.S. team's all-time leading scorer with 49 goals in 144 international games.
The U.S. had already left striker Jozy Altidore off the roster for the upcoming games after his recent disappointing performances in consecutive games against Jamaica. With Donovan, an attacking midfielder, now out, too, the U.S. team might have limited ability in the offensive third. Clint Dempsey and Herculez Gomez are likely to be the top options at forward.
Donovan also had missed the Jamaica games, in which the home team won each of the home-and-away contests. Michael Bradley, another top U.S. midfielder, sat out those games, too, but he will be available this week.
Shea, 22, has made 22 appearance for the U.S. squad. He hasn't played for his club team, FC Dallas, since he was injured Sept. 29, according to U.S. Soccer.
