BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 05: Andoni Iraola during his first press conference as the new Head Coach of AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium on July 05, 2023 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
USMNT ‘cannot count on Tyler Adams for 2026 right now’, says Alexi Lalas… as the American captain is set to miss the October window after a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury
Adams recently suffered a setback to an injury he picked up with Leeds in March
Lalas believes now’s the time for the USA to start building contingency plans
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With injury recovery taking a setback for Bournemouth midfielder and United States captain Tyler Adams, his history with injuries means he can’t be counted on. At least, that’s what Alexi Lalas thinks.
On the latest episode of the pundit’s ‘State of the Union’ podcast, Lalas reacted to the latest developments in Adams’ injury history.
The holding midfielder hurt his hamstring in March of this year, keeping him out for the rest of Leeds United’s doomed campaign to stay in the Premier League.
He made a transfer to Bournemouth in the summer and made his debut for the Cherries in the Carabao Cup this week. But in that match, Adams apparently injured his hamstring again – suffering what manager Andoni Iraola called ‘a setback’.
Lalas called Adams, ‘an incredible player and one that we still have high hopes for in terms of his development and [being] a leader on and off the field,’ but feels now is the time for USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter to start considering alternatives.
Tyler Adams’ injury setback could force the United States to consider other midfield options
‘From a practical perspective, this kind of kicks the can down the road, hopefully, for Greg Berhalter in terms of making that ultimate decision as to who to play in that three in the midfield, because there is an odd man out,’ says Lalas.
‘Now, it opens up another space there. But again, we had feared or talked about it with a caveat, that this is a hamstring that went through a massive type of injury.
And if immediately he gets back and he’s already in trouble right now, it sucks. And now he’s got to get back from a whole ‘nother injury and who knows when we are going to see him again.
‘But I think Greg Berhalter and company now have to start thinking about not just the immediate in the next window, but going into 2026, having backup plans. And it sucks because he is, so far, irreplaceable.
‘But if all that talent and all that depth is to be believed, whether we’ve recognized or it’s just coming to fruition now, somebody has to step up and somebody has to take the place of a Tyler Adams in terms of what he does on the field and the leadership that he brings to this team.
‘Because right now you cannot count on Tyler Adams in the short term. And it has to be said, you cannot count on Tyler Adams for 2026 right now.
‘If it happens, fine, that’s great, and I want it to happen. But this is again another serious injury and who knows when he’s going to be back to 100%, his club or his country.’
