MIAMI, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Americans Landon Donovan and Brek Shea won't be available for a pair of upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, U.S. Soccer officials said Tuesday.
U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in Miami the pair won't be with the American team when it plays Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala in the final two matches of the semifinal round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.
Donovan sustained a knee injury in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 2-1 loss Saturday. He went to the U.S. team's practice in Miami Sunday with hopes of playing but was told to return to Los Angeles after doctors determined his injury hadn't yet healed.
"Landon was very optimistic over the weekend when his knee was feeling much better, but now he needs time to recover," Klinsmann said.
Shea, who has been out of the FC Dallas lineup since Sept. 29 with an abdominal strain, also came to camp hoping he had recovered enough to play but he, too, was ruled out.
The U.S. will take on Antigua & Barbuda Friday at North Sound, Antigua, then will play Guatemala Oct. 17 in Kansas City.
