HARRISON, N.J. -- If one word explains why there were so few surprises on the roster U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann named Sunday for this week's pivotal World Cup qualifier against Mexico and another in Costa Rica on Nov. 15, it's size.
With 26 names on his list, there was no need for Klinsmann to make tough decisions on several players who appeared to be on the bubble beforehand. Aron Johannsson, Jermaine Jones, Julian Green and Lynden Gooch are all there. So are Omar Gonzalez and reserve goalkeepers Ethan Horvath and William Yarbrough, who will vie for the No. 3 role behind presumed starter Tim Howard and fellow veteran Brad Guzan.
That isn't to say there's no intrigue. Versatile defender Geoff Cameron was omitted, as expected, because of a knee injury he picked up playing for Stoke City in the English Premier League. Two other vets, Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman and San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski, also withdrew with injuries after being on Klinsmann's original squad.
But Cameron's absence leaves the U.S. down at least one surefire starter on the back line. Meanwhile, Jones will likely have to prove to the U.S. staff that he's capable of going the distance in an international match. With Klinsmann in attendance at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Sunday afternoon, Jones made his first start for the Colorado Rapids since July 4, when he suffered a knee injury of his own. As such, the German-American is far from a lock to be in the lineup on Friday in Columbus, Ohio.
Others will arrive in the Midwest in fine form. Eighteen-year-old Christian Pulisic has been starting regularly for German Bundesliga power Borussia Dortmund. U.S. captain Michael Bradley has been as good as he's ever been for Toronto FC so far during the MLS playoffs. Same goes for his Reds teammate Jozy Altidore, who scored the winner in last week's 2-0, first-leg victory over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference finals.
Right back Timmy Chandler is having a fine season for club Eintracht Frankfurt and could push Newcastle's DeAndre Yedlin for playing time, while D.C. United center back Steve Birnbaum is probably the leading candidate to replace Cameron in Klinsmann's lineup alongside John Brooks who, interestingly, is still looking for his first appearance for the U.S. in World Cup qualifying.
Even without Cameron and potentially Jones, there's experience aplenty all over the field. No fewer than 15 players on this roster also went to the 2014 World Cup. Ten have faced Mexico in qualifying before.
The Americans will miss Jones' presence if the 35-year-old destroyer can't go, however. No viable like-for-like replacement for the hard-tackling Jones was included, with Danny Williams (Reading) and Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian) left out and Beckerman dealing with an undisclosed ailment.
Up top, Bobby Wood is expected to start alongside Altidore. The pair has combined for five goals in the past seven games in which they've played together going back to last September.
Tottenham's 18-year-old central defensive prospect Cameron Carter-Vickers was also called in for the first time. But he is unlikely to play, as the U.S. can dress 23 players per match, and Brooks and Matt Besler are ahead of him on Klinsmann's left center back depth chart. Still, as far as surprises go, Carter-Vickers stands as the biggest one -- for what it's worth -- this time around.