Pulisic, Weah not in U.S. squad for Nations League quarterfinals

AC Milan winger Christian Pulisic and Juventus forward Timothy Weah have both been ruled out of the United States squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers with Trinidad and Tobago.

USA coach Gregg Berhalter named his 24-man squad for the pair of games against the Caribbean team on Thursday and the two wide-men were the most noticable absences.

"(The injuries) are not too serious but unfortunately they aren't going to be able to participate in this camp," Berhalter told reporters on a video call.

"We see them on track to get back to play soon but it's too short of a deadline so they won't be involved.

"We'll adapt. We'll put guys in the field that are prepared and know what we're doing on the field and who will make a good impact."

Pulisic was substituted in stoppage time of AC Milan's 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday after pulling up with a leg muscle injury.

Weah has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury for Juventus against Verona in Serie A last month.

Berhalter remains without another key starter with central midfielder Tyler Adams ruled out until February after a setback in his attempt to return from long-term injury in September.

The USA will face Trinidad and Tobago in Austin, Texas, on November 16 before taking on the same opponents in Port of Spain four days later.

The 'Soca Warriors' lost 6-0 to the Americans in this year's CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage, where they also were beaten 4-1 by Jamaica, but they have enjoyed more encouraging results since in the Nations League.

They beat El Salvador on the road and Guatemala at home as they finished second in Group A to qualify for the last eight.

"They didn't have a great Gold Cup (but) I think they mixed up their squad after that, had a strong Nations League qualification group and did well," said Berhalter.

"We don't take any opponent lightly I think that's the starting point."

Paxten Aaronson excites

Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Paxten Aaronson, who has just one cap, has been called into the squad and will team up with his brother Brenden, who also plays in the Bundesliga for Union Berlin.

Berhalter suggested that Paxten Aaronson might be the ideal replacement for Pulisic on the left flank.

"We see him as a winger, similar to Christian in the fact that he's he gets in the penalty box and he's dangerous in front of goal and that's what we focus on with our wingers," Berhalter said.

"We know goals are premium and he's a young player that has shown that he has the knack for scoring goals and the starting point is arriving in the penalty box which he does really well. He has got an interesting profile with his quickness and his and his ability to get out of trouble.

"We think he's good at pressing, he's got a lot of things that show us he's going to be an excellent player in the future and now is the time to give him an opportunity."

Squad

Goalkeepers: Matt Turner, Nottingham Forest (ENG); Ethan Horvath, Nottingham Forest (ENG); Gaga Slonina, Eupen (BEL)

Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Celtic (SCO); Sergino Dest, PSV Eindhoven (NED); Tim Ream, Fulham (ENG); Antonee Robinson, Fulham (ENG); Kristoffer Lund, Palermo (ITA); Chris Richards, Crystal Palace (ENG); Miles Robinson, Atlanta United (USA); Joe Scally, Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER)

Midfielders: Weston McKennie, Juventus (ITA); Yunus Musah, AC Milan (ITA); Gio Reyna, Borussia Dortmund (GER); Paxten Aaronson, Eintracht Frankfurt (GER); Johnny Cardoso, Internacional (BRA); Luca de la Torre, Celta Vigo (SPA); Lennard Maloney, Heidenheim (GER); Malik Tillman, PSV Eindhoven (NED)

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson, Union Berlin (GER); Folarin Balogun, Monaco (FRA); Kevin Paredes, Wolfsburg (GER); Ricardo Pepi, PSV Eindhoven (NED); Alex Zendejas, Club America (MEX).