Count Christian Pulisic and Zack Steffen out of the U.S. men’s national team team’s World Cup qualifying kickoff against El Salvador Thursday night.

Pulisic, the USA’s top player, hasn’t return to match fitness since sitting out 10 days after he contacted COVID-19 while playing this his English Premiership club.

Steffen, a goalkeeper, is fighting back spasms that began several days ago. Matt Turner, who starred during the USA’s successful Concacaf Gold Cup triumph, will start instead.

Both players were left behind in Nashville, Tenn., where the Americans will host Canada in its second WCQ Sunday night.

“This is another chance for our guys to respond,” U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter said.

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.