Folks close to the USMNT recognize Tyler Adams’ knack for leadership; seeing him captain the team in the 2022 World Cup at just 23. Speaking of, former US defender Alexi Lalas believes the next USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino would be keen on making the best of Adams’ leadership skills. However, Lalas insisted it was no easy task for the midfielder to excel in that capacity. The USMNT legend says the Bournemouth striker’s consistent injury-induced health concerns could force Pochettino to look beyond the former US skipper as well.

Adams has just now undergone back surgery and will miss the initial few Premier League matches with Bournemouth. Similar woes could haunt the USMNT as well, asserts Lalas.

Mauricio Pochettino pipped to have Plan Bs if Tyler Adams is not at his 100%

Tyler Adams’ health worries were one of the many hot topics that Alexi Lalas discussed in today’s episode of the State of the Union podcast. “I think anybody that comes in with any quality is going to look at Tyler Adams from a leadership standpoint point on and off the field,” said Alexi Lalas. He added, “This is a guy that is going to do the job with this caveat that everybody knows if he’s healthy and if he’s not, he is Tyler Adams at 90%, maybe you can get away with it. But anything less than that, I think it’s problematic.”

Thereafter, the ex-US defender hinted that Mauricio Pochettino should be ready to pursue battles with or without Adams. “Whoever the new coach is, well, no matter what, I think has to look in different directions and certainly have their plans be with Tyler Adams and absolutely without Tyler Adams because we cannot count on him, unfortunately,” Lalas said.

Under to-be boss Mauricio Pochettino’s watch, the USMNT plays friendlies in September and October. It is quite dubious if Pochettino could summon Adams to the US camp before these friendlies.

Adams’ return time remains uncertain after back surgery in July

Immediately after the USMNT’s Copa America washout, Tyler Adams fixed his back problem with surgery. Since that was in July, the Bournemouth coach confirmed that Adams would miss the initial Premier League campaign with the Cherries. “It is difficult to say how long but he won’t be fit for the start of the season. But September? October? I don’t know,” said Bournemouth Andoni Iraola.

Tyler Adams notably embarked on the US’s Copa campaign after recovering from a series of injuries, as we can see from what Andoni Iraola said. He also missed a remarkable part of Bournemouth’s Premier League campaign in the last season. However, when he played for the PL side, Adams made the difference. So it is not like Mauricio Pochettino could never bank on the 25-year-old midfielder. But it’s easier said than done.