Navas returns, four MLS players on Costa Rica's roster to face United States

Jon Arnold

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Navas returns, four MLS players on Costa Rica's roster to face United States image

Keylor Navas could represent Costa Rica in an official match for the first time since March after being among the 23 players called by Ticos manager Oscar Ramirez on Wednesday for World Cup qualification matches against Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.

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The Real Madrid goalkeeper played the entirety of Costa Rica's October friendly win over Russia but has not played in a qualifier or at the Copa America Centenario since March because of injury. 

Two domestic-based defenders, Jose Salvatierra of Alajuelense, a fullback whose national team prospects had dimmed after being a regular, and Pablo Salazar of Herediano, who will be looking for his first minutes with the national team in 2016, are two of the inclusions that perhaps come as a surprise.

Not a surprise is the base of players currently seeing time for European club sides. In addition to Navas, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda and Sporting duo Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campebll are among the 2014 World Cup veterans. MLS also is well-represented with Kendall Waston and Cristian Bolanos of the Vancouver Whitecaps, Ronald Matarrita of NYCFC, and Johan Venegas of the Montreal Impact included, along with MLS Cup champion Rodney Wallace, who now plays in Brazil.

One familiar face, both for Costa Rica and for MLS fans, who is missing is Giancarlo Gonzalez. The former Columbus Crew center back suffered an adductor tear with Serie A side Palermo and is not fit to make the list. Oscar Duarte, the Espanyol center back, also misses out because of an injury.

Full roster:

Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense) Esteban Alvarado (Trabzonspor)

Defenders: Johnny Acosta (Herediano), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps), Michael Umana (Alajuelense) Francisco Calvo (Saprissa), Cristian Gamboa (Celtic) Ronald Matarrita (New York City FC), Bryan Oviedo (Everton), Jose Salvatierra (Alajuelense) Pablo Salazar (Herediano).

Midfielders: Randall Azofeifa (Herediano), Celso Borges (Deportivo La Coruna), Yeltsin Tejeda (Lausanne), David Guzman (Saprissa), Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon), Cristian Bolanos (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johan Venegas (Montreal Impact), Rodney Wallace (Recife)

Forwards: Joel Campbell (Sporting Lisbon), Ariel Rodríguez (Bangkok Glass), Marco Uren (Brondby)

Jon Arnold

Jon Arnold Photo

Jon Arnold covered the Mexico national team and Concacaf region in English for Goal until March 2020. His byline also has appeared in the Dallas Morning News, the New York Times Goal blog, FloFC and Pacific Standard. In addition to his written work, he serves as the Concacaf expert on the BBC's World Football Phone-In and has appeared on SiriusXMFC in English and Fox Deportes and Milenio in Spanish. Formerly based in Tijuana and currently living in Texas, Jon covered the 2018 World Cup, the 2015 Copa America, the 2016 Copa America Centenario and the last five Gold Cups.