Next month sees the U.S. Men’s National Team take on Peru at RFK Stadium in the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. . After the disappointing performance in the Gold Cup last month, many have called for changes, most notably at the head coach position.



One criticism Jurgen Klinsmann has often faced is his difficult relationship with Major League Soccer. The German coach is a big advocate of American players plying their trade in Europe, but as many have found that is often not a guarantee of regular playing time.

With that said, here are five players that are ready for a call-up to Klinsmann’s squad.

Sebastian Lletget - LA Galaxy

The San Francisco native has only recently moved to Major League Soccer after spending his formative years with West Ham United. Highly rated by the Hammers coaching staff, he simply couldn’t earn first team minutes and his loss has certainly been Bruce Arena’s gain.

Netting 6 goals in 11 games, Lletget has seamlessly slotted into the LA Galaxy first team and proved to be a difference maker for the club very early on. Technically sound and able to play centrally or out wide he has previously represented the U.S. at U17, U20 and U23 level.

Still just 22-years-old and with room to grow, he has earned rave reviews from across the league including teammate Robbie Keane: “He’s good on the ball, he’s very clever, and he scores goals,” Keane said.

Ethan Finlay - Columbus Crew SC

Currently joint top in Major League Soccer for assists, Ethan Finlay is enjoying a fantastic year for the Columbus Crew SC.

An impressive combination of pace, on-field intelligence and technical skill, he has proven incredibly dangerous down the right hand side for Gregg Berhalter. Far from a traditional - chalk on your boots winger - Finlay can still cross a ball very well.

That could prove useful for a team that struggled with a lack of creativity during the Gold Cup. Particularly for strikers like Aron Johannsson, having someone like Finlay in the team could see him find the back of the net more often thanks to his dangerous service into the penalty area.

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Discussing his season, teammate Justin Meram said: “Ethan’s just getting on the assist sheet and he’s doing a great job of that. Ethan’s just punishing them and putting the right balls in the right places.”

Showing he could be ready for the big-stage with his performance during the MLS All-Star match, this piece of skill was a particular highlight.

#MLSAllStar #EthanFinlay of #ColumbasCrew SC #13 with some serious balance and skill in the corner! #SoccerViper https://t.co/s53gGrqJEX

Matt Miazga - New York Red Bulls

Centre-back has been a position of some intense debate for fans of the USMNT. Many feel John Anthony Brooks of Hertha Berlin is the long-term option but a partner for the German-American has yet to be found.

Tottenham youngster and fellow double-barrelled defender Cameron Carter-Vickers could be that man but so could Matt Miazga. The Polish-American defender was on trial with New York Red Bulls sister club Red Bull Salzburg in January before being allowed to return to the Big Apple.

Standing at 6 foot 4 inches, Miazga’s presence is one of the first things that strikes you about him, along with his composure on the ball.

Graduating from substitute to starter this season for the club, he has improved significantly from the beginning of the season. “In preseason, his one-on-one defending wasn’t great,” said teammate Sacha Kljestan, “He gave guys too much time and space and it was too easy to beat him.”

A lot has changed since then though. Shutting down David Villa in the Hudson River Derby this past weekend, Miazga has proved to be a vital cog in the Red Bulls machine and a call-up to the national team could be a good evaluation of where he is at on his development path.

Benny Feilhaber - Sporting Kansas City

Unfortunately for Feilhaber, a call-up is unlikely and he knows it himself. Admitting he does not expect to add to his collection of caps, Klinsmann was asked recently why he does not pick the joint leader for assists in Major League Soccer.

“It’s a simple answer,” Klinsmann said. “There are other ones ahead of him.” That is becoming increasingly hard to stomach with each passing performance in which Feilhaber thrives. Some have suggested his personality clashes with current USMNT members, but regardless he deserves a chance to impress.

Positionally versatile and blessed with great technique, his creativity could have been a huge asset during the Gold Cup. The difference maker during his side’s 3-1 victory over Toronto FC at the weekend, this was just one of many games Feilhaber has influenced this season as his ability to dictate the game shone through.

Deserving of a chance it seems that the former Hamburg man has done all he can to earn a spot: “I can honestly say everything he’s told me [to improve on] is something I can check off the list as something I have improved on,” Feilhaber told the Guardian in June. “Whether it be my fitness, my leadership, my working for the team, being selfless for the team, being a 90-minute player that isn’t turning on and off through the game.”

Perry Kitchen - D.C. United

I must confess, I was deciding between Kitchen and Dax McCarty when I made this last pick as both have been impressive this season. Eventually I opted for Kitchen as he’s younger and could be a long-term answer.

Selected during the 2011 SuperDraft, Kitchen turned down a trial with Belgian outfit Anderlecht in order to begin his career in Major League Soccer.

Operating as a number 6 in a deeper lying role for D.C. United, the talented midfielder has been central to the club’s success this season as they sit atop the Eastern Conference. Blessed with good distribution and solid decision making, he seems the perfect replacement for the ageing Kyle Beckerman, all while offering better mobility across the field.

Making his debut for the national team earlier this year, now would seem the perfect time to install Kitchen (no pun intended) in the team and allow him time to grow into the role and the demands of international soccer.