Steve Carrillo

Lletget gets call up to US National Team for March friendlies

CARSON, Calif. — LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget has been called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team camp ahead of friendlies that will take place later this month, U.S Soccer announced on Tuesday.

Lletget, who earned a call up during this year’s annual “Camp Cupcake” in January under new head coach Gregg Berhalter, will depart for Orlando for the beginning of training on March 17.

The U.S. Men’s National Team will face off against Ecuador on March 21 at Orlando City Stadium and then travel to Houston, five days later, to take on defending South American champion Chile on March 26 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Both matches can be found on ESPN2, UniMas, and UDN, with both games kicking off at 5 p.m. pacific time.

“Our goal is to make progress. Building on the themes of last camp, building on the style of play of last camp, but also now evaluating a new group of players,” Berhalter said. “I think we made progress in the first camp and I think it’s now asking if we can take it to another level. When we are done with this camp, it’s really important that we have a good idea of our strongest group of players heading into the Gold Cup.”

Lletget returns to the national team squad after breaking his foot in a 2017 match that sidelined him for the remainder of the year and after he was removed from his last game, a 2-0 loss to FC Dallas, when he broke his nose just before the 60-minute mark. He also missed the Galaxy’s season opener with a hamstring injury he suffered before the start of the season.

In total, Lletget has made seven appearances for the USMNT with two goals.

The Galaxy will host Minnesota on Saturday, March 16 (7:30 p.m.; Spectrum SportsNet, Spectrum Deportes) and then don’t play again until March 31 when the Portland Timbers travel to Dignity Health Sports Park (6 p.m.; ESPN2). Lletget, if healthy, is expected to be available for both of those games.

He was not at Galaxy training on Tuesday morning.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge, BEL; 3/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 6/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 8/0)

DEFENDERS (8): John Brooks (Wolfsburg, GER; 36/3), Omar Gonzalez (Atlas, MEX; 48/3), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 2/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 4/0), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact; 2/0), Matt Miazga (Reading, ENG; 11/1), Tim Ream (Fulham, ENG; 26/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United, ENG; 57/0)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig, GER; 9/1), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC, CAN; 143/17), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 7/2), Weston McKennie (Schalke, GER; 7/1), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund, GER; 23/9), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 7/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 13/0)

FORWARDS (6): Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 19/3), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 2/0), Jonathan Lewis (New York City FC; 2/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 25/5), Christian Ramirez (LAFC; 2/1), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 42/6)