Sergino Dest absent from USMNT for Nations League

Sergino Dest is not playing with the U.S. men's national team (USMNT) in their upcoming Concacaf Nations League match against Panama. The match will take place on Thursday at SoFi Stadium. Dest has just returned to action with his club, PSV, after recovering from a serious knee injury that sidelined him for nearly a year. He made his return earlier this month and has played a couple of matches, but he has only accumulated 85 minutes of play in the past year. Therefore, it makes sense for him to focus on his fitness with PSV rather than join the national team too soon. Other players such as Antonee Robinson and Auston Trusty are also missing the match due to injuries. Meanwhile, Joe Scally is filling in at right back for Dest. Coach Mauricio Pochettino emphasizes the importance of maintaining good relationships with clubs to support player recovery. Looking ahead, there will be more opportunities for Dest to play with the USMNT, especially with the Gold Cup coming this summer. There is still time for Pochettino to evaluate Dest and other players before the World Cup in 2026.