GOAL

New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan has been added to the U.S. national team roster for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, with defender John Brooks withdrawing from the squad Monday because of back issues.

A 46-cap veteran, Kljestan has earned his first call-up since March 2014. The 30-year-old playmaker leads MLS with 15 assists this season, and has compiled 13 goals and 29 assists since joining the Red Bulls ahead of the 2015 campaign.

Brooks, who started five matches at the Copa America Centenario in June, will again have to wait to make his World Cup qualifying debut as he deals with a back problem. Injuries also kept the Hertha Berlin center back out of the Americans' previous four qualifiers, played in November and March.

The U.S. travels to face Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday before hosting Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 6 in Jacksonville, Florida, to close the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in CONCACAF. The Americans (2-1-1) sit second place in Group C, with the top two teams advancing to the final phase.

Here is the updated U.S. roster:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)

DEFENDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls) Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)