Zusi called up by Arena to replace Johnson

U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bruce Arena added Sporting Kansas City’s Graham Zusi to the roster for training camp in San Jose. Zusi was a late addition to the roster on Friday to replace Fabian Johnson.

Speculation on who would be called up started as soon as Johnson left Borussia Monchengladbach’s Europa League match Thursday. Arena had talked about using Johnson as a winger and Zusi has that experience having just recently converted primarily to right back. Zusi playing at right back seemed to be a plan for Arena almost as soon as he was named to replace Jurgen Klinsmann but will he see Zusi as a back still or as another winger option will remain to be seen.

Zusi will leave after Saturday's match between Sporting KC and the San Jose Earthquakes to join his teammates to prepare for the next round of qualifying.

The U.S. will face Zusi’s Sporting KC teammate Roger Espinoza with Honduras in San Jose next Friday, March 24. The U.S. then travels to play Panama four days later in a pair of matches that are crucial to the U.S. qualifying effort.

Updated Roster by Position (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 33/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 33/6), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER; 2/0), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 19/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 12/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 2/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas; 0/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC; 15/3)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 1/0), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 6/0, Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 31/5), Jermaine Jones (LA Galaxy; 16/0), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 0/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 3/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 5/2)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 33/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 36/13), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 8/3)