Christian Pulisic (right) will get some much-needed and deserved R&R time. (Isaiah J. Downing/USA TODAY Sports)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

If any American soccer fans were hoping to get a glimpse of Christian Pulisic in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, don’t hold your breath.

The 18-year-old U.S. international midfielder will be getting some time off over the next three weeks as he catches his breath before he returns to preseason training with Borussia Dortmund.

U.S. head coach Bruce Arena told Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated that he was doubtful that Pulisic or any of his European-based players, for that matter, would be playing in the continental competition.

Pulisic was placed on the 40-man preliminary roster, but is would be unwise for him to be placed on the 23-man final roster.

Christian’s father Mark said that his son needs some down time.

“I will tell you right now that he’s not playing in the Gold Cup,” Mark Pulisic recently told FrontRowSoccer.com “He can’t go to the qualifiers, go the Gold Cup and go to Dortmund late. So now he’s behind with his club team. The European-based players, it’s difficult because they start training camp at that time.”

The teen will take some time off in Hershey, Pa., where he was born and lived for most of his life.

“He’s looking forward to spending some time at home after the Mexico game,” Mark said. “So, he’s excited to come home.”

Christian has bought a condominium in Hershey.

“He wants to make his own kind of home base because he loves where he grew up,” Mark said. “He’s a Hershey kid at heart. So, he bought a place and he’s now excited to come see it because my wife has decorated it and done everything. He’ll be home for a couple of weeks. He’ll have to be back in Dortmund in July, so he’ll have like a three-week break.”

Christian did not have much time between the end of Dortmund’s season as he joined the U.S. team in World Cup training camp in the USA May 27. He played in both qualifiers, scoring twice in the 2-0 home win over Trinidad & Tobago and going the full 90 in the 1-1 draw in Mexico City.

Due to his commitments with the Bundesliga club and his international duty, Christian doesn’t get many opportunities to return home.

“Unfortunately, his breaks are few and far between,” Mark said. “Good thing the Bundesliga has a winter break, so he is allowed to go back home for Christmas time for a week or 10 days, which is important. National team, he has to miss things, he has to miss things because he needs a break. But now with the national team, it’s pulling him out as well.”

On Wednesday, Arena told SI that it was unlikely would play in the Gold Cup in July.

“I doubt it,” he said.

“It’s bad timing for [the Gold Cup], because the guys in Europe have gone through this long club season and now the World Cup qualifiers. They need a break. They have three weeks off, and asking them to come in for Gold Cup makes no sense. It would take three weeks to get them ready.”

The U.S. wants a well-rested Pulisic for the final four matches of the qualifying competition for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Pulisic has been a revelation for the Red, White and Blue, scoring seven goals in 15 international appearances.

The Americans next will play Costa Rica Sept. 1 at a yet-to-be named venue. Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., reportedly is in negotiations with U.S. Soccer to host the match.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.