CARSON, Calif. – Jermaine Jones is hopeful of returning to the U.S. National Team setup after missing the United States’ last two World Cup qualifiers as he recovered from injury.
Jones, 35, was not called up by USMNT boss Bruce Arena for the team’s World Cup qualifying matches with Costa Rica and Honduras as he sought to regain his sharpness following an MCL sprain and subsequent toe injury. Healthy again, Jones has looked dominant in a defensive midfield role I recent weeks drawing considerable praise from head coach Sigi Schmid.
Although Jones is focused on helping the Galaxy climb the Western Conference standings, he admits that he’s hoping to rejoin the USMNT soon.
“If you are there and they lose, they say Jermaine is too old. If they go to Honduras and they’re missing fight, then they say they can use [me]. Right now, I’m concentrated on the LA Galaxy,” Jones said. “I know I had the long-term injury and then the toe injury, so Bruce and I talked, and everything is okay. If I’m 100 percent fit, I want to focus first on the Galaxy and help us make a playoff spot, then concentrate in October to try and make the national team roster.”
