Sacha Kljestan is back.

After being out of Anderlecht’s starting lineup for two months, the former Chivas USA man found his way into the Mauves' first XI. He went the full 90 in the squad's Europa League victory over AEK Athens last week, then started in an inspired 10-men win against Westerlo this past weekend.

The central midfielder began his campaign on a high note by tallying in his first match, but an ankle injury in late August and a subsequent 60 days of missed action took their toll on his morale.

Kljestan wasn't a lock for the first team before going down, but he was playing frequently. It looks like he'll once again figure prominently in manager Ariel Jacobs' plans for the perennial Belgian Pro League favorite.

But while there may be a spot for him in the Mauves set-up, unfortunately for Kljestan, even getting time in the Europa League won’t earn him a spot on Bob Bradley’s starting XI.

[inline_node:314286]Kljestan made 10 appearances during World Cup qualifying, including four during the hexagonal round, but was left out of the US' final roster this past summer in South Africa. He'll be lucky to figure in any US A-team matches going forward, as there simply isn't room.

The midfielder's best skill is his creativity, and when he's at his best, the 2008 United States Young Male Athlete of the Year plays with a vision that few in the pool can match.

But the Red, White and Blue, as currently constructed, don't prize creativity. As a result, Kljestan finds himself behind Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Maurice Edu in the central midfield role, and trailing at least Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Stuart Holden out wide. That's a lot of spots to pass on the depth chart, and it's unlikely to happen.

So Kljestan will continue to fight for time at Anderlecht, and will likely join the United States in Cape Town for next month's friendly in what could be a bittersweet trip. He may even earn a start in the early stages of the Gold Cup, or see time as a substitute (although Benny Feilhaber has shown he's ideally suited to that spot).

But the time has come and gone for Kljestan to make an impact in the Stars and Stripes’ most important tilts. He's a victim of the growing talent in the American squad. It's a sad truth for him, but it’s a good sign for the future of the US program.

Noah Davis covers the United States national team for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on Twitter at @noahedavis.

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