Alex Bono may not have to wait much longer for his first cap with the United States men’s national team.
The Toronto FC goalkeeper has been called up to multiple camps since being drafted by the Reds in 2015, but has yet to make an appearance for the senior side.
That could change soon. According to TFC coach Greg Vanney, Bono is in line to play in the friendly against Bolivia in Philadelphia on Monday night. The 24-year-old reported for duty Monday and will miss Friday’s MLS game against FC Dallas as a result.
Backup goalkeeper Clint Irwin is expected to draw into the Toronto lineup.
“My understanding and my anticipation is that he’ll start in this game for the U.S.,” Vanney said of Bono’s early release by TFC. “Not to break any starting lineups, but he’s there because he’s expected to play, from my point of view. Which means he needs the week to prepare.”
Vanney added that Bono will not be a part of the squad that then travels to Europe for friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and France in early June.
“This is an opportunity for Alex,” he said. “It’s a Western Conference game — which Clint, I think, is for us a guy who we need to get back out there again anyway. He’s been fantastic in training and it’s a good opportunity for Clint to get back out there. So all things considered, it’s both for Alex and for Clint. For Alex, he needs the full preparation if he’s going to play the game.”
U.S. captain Michael Bradley, however, will continue to be left out in the cold as Sarachan tests some of the younger options in his player pool. One such option is TFC midfielder Marky Delgado, who made his debut in March and could be in contention for a call-up before the pair of European friendlies.
Justin Morrow and Jozy Altidore will not be involved due to injury.
“From everything I know from the U.S. standpoint, they’re still going to be looking at the younger players and maybe some guys in Europe whose seasons are over,” Vanney continued. “Michael won’t be back into the equation.
“We may or may not lose one during the course of that. We’ll wait and we’ll see. The one guy I’d say is possible right now, given health and everything, would be potentially Marky. But outside of that, we’ll see. Nobody else is really in the mix, I don’t think, right now.”
Vanney is hoping to be able to welcome Nick Hagglund back into the mix when Dallas visits Toronto. The centerback has not played since the loss to the Montreal Impact on March 17 after picking up a hamstring strain in training.
Left backs Morrow (calf) and Ashtone Morgan (hamstring) remain doubtful, meaning right back Gregory van der Wiel could continue to fill in on that side. Nicolas Hasler, meanwhile, will have an MRI on Tuesday to check on the status of his quad strain and is not expected to feature.
“Nick’s starting to integrate into the training sessions, so he’s possible for this week,” Vanney said. “Justin and Ash are still working through progressions. I’m not 100 per cent certain they’re going to be able to make it for this weekend — we’ll see.”