Weston McKennie played in the waning minutes of the win over Morocco. (Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
It’s literally one step at a time for Weston McKennie.
The talented U.S. men’s national team midfielder, who has only two matches under his belt as a substitute since returning from a broken foot, will start and play a maximum of 45 minutes against Uruguay on Sunday.
U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter doesn’t want to push it in the friendly at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
“Forty-five, max,” Berhalter said as he announced his Starting XI during a Saturday afternoon Zoom call with the media. “And it was conversations with him, with the medical staff, with everyone. He’s at a point now where I think he can start the game. Again, limiting his minutes to 45 and going from there.
“But I’m really anxious to see how we can do. I’m a little bit cautious because there is in the back of your mind there is that a little bit of concern. It’s going to be a competitive game, and there’s no one you’d rather have out there at the Weston.”
McKennie suffered the injury in the 1-1 draw against Villarreal on Feb. 22 in the UEFA Champions League. That forced him to miss the U.S.’s final three World Cup qualifiers in March.
He returned to Juventus in its season-ending 2-1 loss at Fiorentina on May 21.
The FC Dallas product replaced Brenden Aaronson in the 72nd minute of the 3-0 win over Morocco on Wednesday night.
Berhalter told the media his Starting XI:
Goalkeeper – Sean Johnson
Defenders – DeAndre Yedlin, Aaron Long, Walker Zimmerman, Antonee Robinson (if he isn’t ready, Joe Scally will startt)
Midfielders – Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie
Forwards – Christian Pulisic, Jesus Ferreira, Tim Weah
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