Joe Scally will have an opportunity to make his USMNT debut next month. (Keith Furman/FrontRowSoccer.com)

By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

Not only is Joe Scally back with the U.S. men’s national team, the 19-year-old right back is likely to make his debut next month.

The Lake Grove, N.Y. native was called into the team on Friday for June’s four matches.

Scally, who plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga, was called up for the USMNT’s November window during World Cup qualifying but did not see any action. He has not been capped – yet.

“He was a guy that we had in camp and unfortunately didn’t get to play, didn’t get his opportunity in qualifying,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said during a Zoom conference call on Friday. “He’s an interesting player. I mean, to be that young and to be playing in the Bundesliga and scoring goals in the Bundesliga [to be] part of a team that beats Bayern Munich, 5-0, he’s done a good enough job to get an opportunity. And that’s what this is.

“He will get game time. In these four games. I’m not sure exactly how much but he will get an opportunity.”

A former New York City FC player, Scally made 30 appearances for Borussia, making 20 starts and scoring a goal. He was used more off the bench for the German side in the past several months.

“It’s just … getting our hands on these guys, getting to work with these guys, because you never know down the line.”

Berhalter referenced an earlier question in the session, when he answered a query about when he brought in defender Cameron Carter-Vickers into camp for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup.

“Anytime we had the opportunity to look at players we want, it’s been valuable for us,” he said. “It’s been tough on the staff, a lot of a lot of evaluation, a lot of working with a new group all the time. But I think when you get these guys in front of you and start working with them, you start knowing them better, and then it helps you to be able to evaluate them.

“You just never know. So, it’s good to start working with these guys right away.”

The USMNT will play four games in June. The Americans kick off the international window on June 1 against African powerhouse Morocco at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati before USA hosts Uruguay on June 5 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.

The schedule continues with the start of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League as the U.S. will play group stage matches against Grenada on June 10 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas and at El Salvador on June 14.

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.