The Stoke City defender is likely to miss the upcoming U.S. qualifiers against Mexico and Costa Rica, which will force Jurgen Klinsmann to tap into his center back depth.

If there was a group of players Jurgen Klinsmann would desperately want to have available for the U.S. national team's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Mexico and Costa Rica, Geoff Cameron would be near the top of the list. Now, it's time to consider a new set of candidates to fill in for the injured Stoke City standout.

How will Mexico line up?

How do you replace your most consistent defender? Klinsmann has some options, though none are as dependable, or versatile, as Cameron, who gave Klinsmann the luxury of considering a variety of lineup combinations heading into the toughest matches in the hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying.

With Cameron, Klinsmann could deploy him in central defense, where he was so outstanding at Copa America, or he could slot Cameron at right back, where he has enjoyed success against both Mexico and Costa Rica before. Now, without Cameron, Klinsmann's options have been cut down considerably.

Cameron has also been much more reliable from a health standpoint than John Brooks, who is the best U.S. defender when healthy, but who has been lost to injury on multiple occasions, which should have Klinsmann watching Hertha Berlin's match against Borussia Moenchengladbach very closely on Friday.

The good news for the United States is that there are some solid central defender options. Omar Gonzalez looks like a good candidate to step in and replace Cameron alongside John Brooks, while Klinsmann has given Steven Birnbaum several looks this year. The fact D.C. United has been out of action for two weeks could hurt Birnbaum's chances of beating out Gonzalez.

Cameron's absence also likely settles the conversation about the right back position, where Klinsmann could have put him like he did in the September qualifying win against Trinidad and Tobago. At the time, it was seen as a stopgap measure to fill in for a suspended DeAndre Yedlin, but when Klinsmann called out Yedlin for a bad October national team camp, it made it seem a lot more plausible that we would see Cameron at right back.

To his credit, Yedlin has rebounded to grab hold of a starting role at Newcastle United. He has started at right back in three straight matches, drawing good reviews for his play. If that isn't enough to get Yedlin back in Klinsmann's good graces, there is also the fact that Yedlin's speed could help provide some cover for Gonzalez, who is a step slower than Cameron in central defense.

MLS' higher seeds face tall task

Another option at right back is Timmy Chandler, who has been in outstanding form for Eintracht Frankfurt. The big knock against Chandler is that he hasn't done all that well in past starts for the national team, but if Klinsmann still doesn't feel like Yedlin is a viable starter, then Chandler has a good chance of stepping in.

Klinsmann could also turn to Michael Orozco, who has been starting regularly for Club Tijuana, the first-place team in Liga MX. Orozco has delivered mixed results when given opportunities this year, but he has also enjoyed success playing against Mexico before, and that could sway Klinsmann's deciison.

Could Klinsmann be tempted to bring in some new blood to help make up for Cameron's absence? FC Dallas defender Matt Hedges has been one of the best defenders in MLS for the past three years, but he hasn't been brought back into the national team since taking part in the January camp. Klinsmann could be tempted to bring Hedges in given the fact he is still playing in the playoffs and fully match fit. Eric Lichaj is playing well for Nottingham Forest, but continues to be stuck behind Yedlin, Orozco and Chandler in the fullback depth chart.