Pochettino Shuffles USMNT Defense After Campbell’s Groin Injury

When George Campbell limped off with a groin strain during West Brom’s clash with Southampton, Mauricio Pochettino didn’t have long to wait before making a call. The Argentine coach tapped Mark McKenzie, the 27‑year‑old New Yorker, to fill the empty slot on the U.S. men’s national team’s November roster.

It’s a bit of a curious swap. Campbell, who had been enjoying a solid run as West Brom’s captain and was on Pochettino’s radar after a strong start to the season, now watches from the sidelines. Meanwhile, McKenzie, fresh off a solitary appearance in the dead‑rubber group match against Türkiye at the 2026 World Cup, gets a surprise invitation to travel back to American soil.

McKenzie’s situation is almost poetic. He spent most of the fall season playing in France with Toulouse, but his heart was always set on returning to MLS with the Philadelphia Union. Now, thanks to a twist of fate, he’ll be back in the States sooner than anyone—maybe even before his Union debut.

The November window is narrow but meaningful. The USMNT faces Haiti twice: first at Miami’s Nu Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, then at Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter‑finals. Those matches will be a testing ground for Pochettino’s evolving backline.

Speaking of the backline, the competition is fierce. Veteran Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) still looks the likely first‑choice centre‑back now that captain Tim Ream has hung up his boots. Alongside him, the likes of Neil Pierre—a 19‑year‑old phenom from Philadelphia Union who already rattled off five goals this season—are jostling for minutes. Celtic’s Auston Trusty, another World Cup call‑up, also remains in the mix.

And then there’s McKenzie, whose reputation as a steady, no‑nonsense defender makes him a sensible addition. He’s not a headline grabber, but he’s reliable, a trait that Pochettino values highly, especially when he’s willing to rotate the central pairing every few games, as we saw after the World Cup.

For Pierre, the Haiti double‑header carries extra emotional weight. The young centre‑back, whose parents hail from Haiti, talked to GOAL about the deep sense of family and tradition that fuels his play. “It feels like a big team environment,” he said, emphasizing how his roots shape his identity on and off the pitch.

All told, the November roster is a snapshot of a team in transition—mixing seasoned pros, hungry newcomers, and a few emergency call‑ups forced by circumstance. Whether the USMNT can gel quickly enough for the Nations League knockout will be the real test for Pochettino’s new‑look defense.