Sergino Dest could miss the USMNT’s final three qualifiers. (USA TODAY Sports)

By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

Gregg Berhalter unveiled his 27-man roster on ESPN SportsCenter on Thursday evening and already he might have to replace a player.

Left back Sergino Dest suffered a possible hamstring injury and he could be sidelined for the three vital World Cup qualifiers that will determine the U.S. men’s national team’s fate in its quest for Qatar.

“It’s not great news,” Berhalter said during a media Zoom call. “The initial diagnosis, it seems to be a hamstring injury, but we’re going to get the final details tomorrow. We may need to replace him. We’ve already identified candidates to replace them. We’re already prepared to speak to him first thing tomorrow.”

During an interview on SportsCenter, Berhalter said he could bring in George Bello or Joe Scally to replace the Barcelona player.

Dest, with his attacking skillset, is the most dangerous outside back the USA has.

He was forced to leave Barca’s Europa League Round of 16 game against Galatasaray. He grabbed the back of his left leg after a challenge with Kerem Aktürkoglu.

Barcelona came from behind to register a 2-1 win.

The USMNT visits Mexico on March 24, hosts Panama in Orlando, Fla. on March 27 and finishes at Costa Rica on March 30.

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.