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Altidore back in USMNT squad, Dempsey, Zardes out for World Cup qualifiers

Reuters

Jozy Altidore, fit again and in the midst of a red-hot run of scoring form at club level, is back in Jurgen Klinsmann's squad.

After missing this summer's Copa America Centenario with a hamstring injury, the powerful attacker returns to the roster for the United States' upcoming World Cup qualifiers; the Americans are slated to play St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Sept. 2, and Trinidad & Tobago four days after that.

While the Toronto FC striker returns to the fold, fellow forwards Clint Dempsey and Gyasi Zardes were not included. The Seattle star, as expected, was left out due to an irregular heartbeat.

Related: Dempsey to miss World Cup qualifiers with irregular heartbeat

Zardes, meanwhile, sustained an undisclosed injury in the LA Galaxy's goalless draw against Vancouver on Saturday. With blossoming stud Jordan Morris and incumbent starter Bobby Wood still in the squad, Klinsmann is certainly not bereft of options.

The German bench boss has shown faith in his stalwarts, calling up 19 of the 23 men who were involved in the Copa America earlier this summer.

"We definitely think that the group that got fourth in the Copa America deserves a certain priority going into the next World Cup qualifiers because they did tremendously well in the Copa America," Klinsmann said.

"It was an exciting tournament with great games. The whole group learned a lot, playing teams like Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina. This is a big stage, and they deserve to come back and confirm what they did in the tournament in these upcoming, very important World Cup qualifiers."

Here is the squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)

Defenders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha BSC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle)

Midfielders: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (FC Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)

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