Gio Reyna is back with the U.S. men’s national team for the first time since March.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who participated in the 2022 World Cup, has only made one brief appearance for his country since Mauricio Pochettino took charge as USMNT coach over a year ago. Additionally, Reyna’s playing time with his new club Borussia Mönchengladbach has been limited since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund last August.

Gio Reyna

However, regular forwards Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah are unavailable due to injuries this month. Malik Tillman, another forward, is just returning from a hamstring injury sustained during U.S. duty last month.

This situation allows Reyna, who contributed significantly to the U.S.’s Concacaf Nations League titles from 2021 to 2024, to secure a spot on Pochettino’s roster for the final matches of the year.

Pochettino expressed his confidence in Reyna, stating, “He’s a special player,” during a video conference on Thursday. Reyna will participate in upcoming matches against South American teams Paraguay and Uruguay.

Mauricio Pochettino on Reyna

Pochettino highlighted Reyna’s immense talent, emphasizing the importance of this opportunity in November, stating, “Until March, we won’t meet again and this is a chance to evaluate him.”

Ricardo Pepi

Forward Ricardo Pepi is also making a return after a knee surgery that sidelined him since November 2024. Despite not reinstating his starting role yet, he maintains a remarkable scoring rate.

Out of other prominent excluded players, Weston McKennie will remain with Juventus for lack of consistent playing time. Pochettino noted, “It’s crucial for Weston to convince the coach to continue utilizing him.”

Christian Pulisic Christian Pulisic will miss the U.S. matches this month.

In conclusion, with several key players injured or unavailable, this may lead to a shift in the team lineup for the upcoming international friendlies. Reyna’s return adds a fresh dynamic to the squad.