The veteran left back has come out of international retirement, joining the U.S. ahead of its Gold Cup quarterfinal against Cuba.

BALTIMORE — DaMarcus Beasley awoke from a nap last month, checked his phone and discovered something puzzling.

"I had a missed call from Jurgen," Beasley said. "I thought, 'Oh, that's kind of weird.'"

The longtime national team stalwart hadn't spoken to United States coach Jurgen Kinsmann since December, when Beasley announced his international retirement after 121 caps and four trips to the World Cup.

The Houston Dynamo left back initially thought Kinsmann was just calling to check in. Not the case. It turned out Klinsmann was putting together his provisional squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and wanted to try his luck pulling Beasley back into the picture.

The 33-year-old called back Klinsmann the next day. Soon after, Beasley was named to the 35-man preliminary roster.

"All it took was Jurgen to call and that was it," Beasley said. "I wasn't expecting to be back here. I retired for reasons — to spend more time with my family, stuff like that. But what player is going to say no?"

Not included on the 23-man squad called in for the Gold Cup group stage, Beasley was summoned as one of Klinsmann's three mid-tournament replacements ahead of the quarterfinal against Cuba on Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium. It marks the sixth Gold Cup for Beasley, who captained the U.S. to the title in 2013.

He takes the place of 23-year-old Greg Garza, an enticing prospect at left back who went through some growing pains during the Americans' narrow group stage victory over Haiti.

Brek Shea, another left back option, is sitting out the tournament with a groin injury. And incumbent left back Fabian Johnson could be needed on the opposite side Saturday after a string of underwhelming performances from right back Timmy Chandler.

While it remains to be seen if Beasley is in the plans going forward or simply a Gold Cup stopgap, the veteran could very well regain his starting role against Cuba.

"When you talk about experience and just having seen it all, his presence in the group is so important," U.S. captain Michael Bradley said. "He's a leader. He comes in and has a great way about him in terms of the way he trains and in terms of the way he carries himself."

Beasley, who has started all 19 matches for the Dynamo this MLS season, has spent much of his newfound free time with his 1-year-old daughter, Lia. But he's briefly shifting focus back to his U.S. Soccer family, which looks a bit different than it did just eight months ago, when Beasley last played in a friendly against Colombia.

With Matt Besler omitted from the team and John Brooks suspended for the quarterfinal, Beasley could make his first ever appearance playing next to Tim Ream — the likely starter at left center back. This tournament also marks the first time Beasley has been on a squad with 22-year-old Ventura Alvarado, who started two group stage matches at right center back.

Although Beasley has limited experience with certain players, his wealth of international experience should ease the transition.

"I still follow the national team," Beasley said. "I know everyone's face, even the newer ones that I met this morning. It's a great group, mixed between experience and the young men. I'm excited to work with everybody — the guys I've been working with for 10, 11 years and the guys I've been working with for two minutes."

Added goalkeeper Brad Guzan: "DaMarcus is a guy that has been with the national team forever — his entire career, basically. So he's one of those guys that understands it. He knows what it's about. ... Instantly he commands the respect of everyone in camp because of what he's accomplished."

Up close Thursday, one could spot the receding hairline on Beasley's shaved head as he took part in his first training session back with the U.S. at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. It was a solitary sign of age for a player who otherwise went about the practice with youthful energy that belied his decade and a half of national team experience.

"I feel like a little kid again," Beasley said. "I feel like my first cap. Packing my bag for the camp, I got the butterflies again."

Follow THOMAS FLOYD on