Two citizens-to-be among 32 players ready for U.S. soccer training camp

FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2016, file photo, Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei makes a stop against FC Dallas in the second half of an MLS soccer playoff match, in Seattle. Frei and Vancouver midfielder Kekuta Manneh, both in the process of completing U.S. citizenship requirements, are among 32 players who will report to the first U.S. training camp since Bruce Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann as coach. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - In this April 23, 2016, file photo, Vancouver Whitecaps' Kekuta Manneh celebrates his goal against FC Dallas during the second half of an MLS soccer game, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei and Vancouver midfielder Kekuta Manneh, both in the process of completing U.S. citizenship requirements, are among 32 players who will report to the first U.S. training camp since Bruce Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann as coach. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

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Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei and Vancouver midfielder Kekuta Manneh, both in the process of completing U.S. citizenship requirements, are among 32 players who will report to the first U.S. training camp since Bruce Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann as coach.

Frei, 30, relocated from Switzerland with his family in the 1990s and played college soccer for California. He would give Arena another veteran option in addition to Colorado’s Tim Howard, projected to be sidelined for four months following November surgery on his right leg, and Brad Guzan, who on Monday made his first appearance since August for Middlesbrough.

“In my view we have about eight goalkeepers we’re going to be looking at throughout the year,” Arena said Thursday during a Facebook Live session, mentioning the five invited to camp along with Ethan Horvath and William Yarbrough. “Certainly Tim Howard and Brad Guzan would have the edge at this point in time.”

Manneh, a 22-year-old Gambian, moved to Texas in 2010.

Veterans Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya and Chris Wondolowski also are on the roster that will report to Carson, California, starting Jan. 10 ahead of exhibitions against Serbia on Jan. 29 at San Diego and versus Jamaica on Feb. 3 at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Europe-based players will return when World Cup qualifying resumes March 24 against Honduras.

Seattle forward Clint Dempsey, sidelined since Aug. 21 by an irregular heartbeat, was not included.

“Clint’s making great progress,” Arena said. “He’s not fully ready to come into our camp, but we really believe by March he’ll be ready to play in Seattle and be a possibility for our qualifiers.”

Arena coached the U.S. from 1998-2006 and was hired in November after the Americans lost to Mexico and Costa Rica in the first two games of the final round of qualifying.

He announced 11 players for his training camp roster on Dec. 16.

The roster

Goalkeepers: David Bingham (San Jose), Stefan Frei (Seattle), Bill Hamid (D.C.), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls).

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (no club), Steve Birnbaum (D.C.), Brad Evans (Seattle), Greg Garza (Atlanta), Matt Hedges (Dallas), Taylor Kemp (D.C.), Chad Marshall (Seattle), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia), Walker Zimmerman (Dallas), Graham Zusi (Kansas City).

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Benny Feilhaber (Kansas City), Jermaine Jones (no club), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Lletget (Los Angeles), Kekuta Manneh (Vancouver), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia), Wil Trapp (Columbus).

Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England), Jozy Altidore (Toronto), Jordan Morris (Seattle), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Gyasi Zardes (Los Angeles).