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 Jay DeMerit (Green Bay/Bay Port) hasn't played in a competitive match in more than eight months, but coach Bob Bradley called the central defender back into a U.S. national team camp.
DeMerit, who could make his Major League Soccer debut Saturday in the Vancouver Whitecaps' inaugural match, was one of 24 players selected by Bradley to train ahead of friendlies against Argentina and Paraguay later this month.
The U.S., ranked 19th in the FIFA world rankings, plays No. 4 Argentina on March 26 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (6 p.m., ESPN2), then takes on 24th-ranked Paraguay – a World Cup quarterfinalist – on March 29 at LP Field in Nashville (6 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel).
Those are the Americans' final games before the CONCACAF Gold Cup in June, when the U.S. will seek a berth in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.
DeMerit has 23 caps for the national team and started all four matches for the Americans at last summer's World Cup in South Africa. His last competitive game was June 26, when the U.S. lost to Ghana 2-1 in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
Whitecaps coach Teitur Thordarson said DeMerit is questionable for Saturday's home game against Toronto FC because of a groin/hip flexor injury, but the team captain said he "definitely" will play.
The national team training camp starts Sunday in Cary, N.C. If he is named to the 18-man gameday roster for the Argentina match, he would miss Vancouver's game at the Philadelphia Union the same day.
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