Donovan urges USA manager Berhalter to start Gio Reyna against England

‘We NEED this guy on the field’: Landon Donovan urges USA manager Gregg Berhalter to start Gio Reyna against England and insists 20-year-old is vital to team’s chances of getting through

  • Gio Reyna was a surprise exclusion from the USA team for game against Wales 
  • Fans – and pundits – have urged Gregg Berhalter to put him in his starting XI 
  • Landon Donovan is the latest, and he says USA ‘need’ to play Dortmund star
  • He believes ‘we need this guy on the field if we’re going to be successful’ 
  • Follow Sportsmail’s blog for live coverage of England vs USA at the World Cup 
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  • Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

USMNT legend Landon Donovan has implored Gregg Berhalter to put Gio Reyna in his starting line-up to face England, and insists he is vital to the team’s chances of victory on Friday afternoon.

Reyna was a surprise exclusion from the team against Wales, and the US went on to struggle to break down its opponents in a 1-1 draw on Monday, despite playing well.

After Iran’s win over Wales, the US are third in Group B and face two huge games to decide its fate, and Donovan is insistent that Reyna needs to be on the field. 

Gio Reyna has been training this week but it’s unclear whether he’ll start against England

Gregg Berhalter shocked USA fans by dropping the Dortmund star for the Wales game

‘We can’t talk about Gio without talking about the injuries,’ he began, during Fox Sports’ build-up to today’s game. ‘It’s been really sad to see, it’s kind of depressing, he had played five, six consecutive games for Dortmund and was starting to fly. 

‘He comes into this tournament, we’ve all got him penciled in for the starting line-up and all of a sudden he doesn’t step on the field against Wales, and we’re thinking, “what is going on here?”

‘I’m not sure what the reality is… he says one thing, Gregg says another, I don’t know, but we need this guy on the field if we’re going to be successful.’

Reyna has been a sensation for Dortmund in Germany despite only just turning 20, and many US fans expected him to be among the first names on Berhalter’s teamsheet.

Reyna has been sensational for Borussia Dortmund in Germany despite just turning 20

Landon Donovan believes the USA ‘need’ Reyna on the field if they’re to be successful in Qatar

Now, though, he is facing the prospect of having to come off the bench against England on Tuesday, with the manager not expected to make a raft of changes after a positive showing against Wales, despite the late concession of an equalizer. 

‘I think even if the United States can’t get him from the start, off the bench he can still have an impact, and what makes him so good is his ability to drive with the ball,’ Stuart Holden added.

‘He’s a guy that can create a play and a moment of brilliance that can win a game.’ 

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