BUCCAMENT BAY, St. Vincent -- U.S. men's national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann announced that he is continuing to rotate his goalkeepers ahead of two World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking at a roundtable with reporters, Klinsmann indicated that Middlesbrough's Brad Guzan will start in goal against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday, while Tim Howard of the Colorado Rapids will get the nod against Trinidad & Tobago four days later.
Klinsmann, while not announcing his full starting lineup, added that Geoff Cameron, Kyle Beckerman, and Jozy Altidore -- who will serve as captain -- will also start the match.
As for the goalkeeper rotation, the decision is something of a departure from the Copa America Centenario earlier this summer, when Guzan started every match except for the third-place game against Colombia, in which Howard played. But with World Cup qualifying resuming on Friday, Klinsmann is returning to the rotation policy he used in earlier qualifying matches.
"They are both pretty much on the same level, they are both very important to us," said Klinsmann about Guzan and Howard. "That hasn't changed ... since Copa America because the younger ones in line -- which are very talented -- haven't reached their level yet."
Klinsmann added that he is "not a big fan" of rotating goalkeepers, but is trying to keep both goalkeepers engaged, especially in light of the travel distances involved for the England-based Guzan.
"With Tim Howard and Brad Guzan, I need both on board," Klinsmann said. "I need both fully happy and if I was 36, 37, I'm not happy if I'm on the bench for two games and traveled all over the place, and under these conditions and then back to my club team.
"That's why I'm very open with both keepers and say, 'I understand you're traveling, I understand the effort you're bringing in here. I want you both to keep on going because the youngsters, they are not there yet to take your spots.'"