Where is Sergino Dest? Why USMNT’s star defender is absent for Concacaf Nations League game vs. Panama

While the national team of the United States is preparing to start the semi -finals of the Concacaf Nations League with which Panama will be on Thursday at Sofi Stadium at 7 p.m. Paramount+Mauricio Pochettino will have to overcome the players who are not available for the game. Names like Antonee Robinson, Johnny Cardoso and Auston Trusty will not be healthy enough to become a member of the team Although they are mentioned in the schedule, but there are also other members of the team who have been omitted, such as Folarin Balogun and Right Back Sergino Dest.

Dest officially returned to the field for PSV in the beginning of March after repairing an ACL Teacher. That injury has put him offside since April 2024, but from March 8, Dest will be back in the fold and will be out of the bank in a 2-1 victory over Heerenveen, to replace fellow American Richard Ledezma. He made another appearance for the Dutch club that starts a match in a victory at RKC Waalwijk and was able to make it 62 minutes in that game.

Why is Dest not with the USMNT?

Although he was back in the fold for PSV, when the USMNT was announced, Dest was not on, but that is also something that makes sense. Only 85 minutes of playing football in the past year can best be served with PSV during this international window instead of urging to play too quickly for the USMNT. Dest was one of the first names on the team schedule under Gregg Berhalter and his style also fits on how Pochettino wants to play, but it is important not to push a player too quickly.

Joe Scally is a more than competent stand-in right back during the absence of Dest and gives the USMNT a good chance of winning this tournament. When Tyler Adams was injured, it was important to ensure that the USMNT was balanced in Bournemouth with international responsibilities, and now he is back to make his first performance under Pochettino. That is a similar scenario like Dest.

Pochettino has emphasized that they want to keep good relationships with clubs and that is something that could go a long way in the future. With the Gold Cup in the summer, Pochettino still gets the chance to see Dest in a competitive environment for the World Cup, so while 2026 is getting closer by the day, this does not mean that he no longer has time to find out his best selection.