Bundesliga quartet in provisional US Gold Cup squad

Wolfsburg's Brooks had been expected to play a key role for the US, since Berhalter twice flew over to Germany to watch the 36-time US international in action during the 2018/19 campaign. However, the former Hertha Berlin centre-back sat out the final two games of the Bundesliga season with "medial ligament discomfort" in his knee, and his omission would appear to indicate the problem is more serious than first feared.

Hamburg-owned Hannover striker Bobby Wood and Borussia Mönchengladbach wide man Fabian Johnson are among the other Germany-based Americans not to be called up.

Berhalter will cut a number of players from his provisional squad after a training camp next week, and has until 6 June to submit his final 23-man roster.

If they make the grade, RB Leipzig midfielder Adams, Schalke counterpart McKennie and Werder Bremen striker Sargent will all be playing at a senior-level international tournament for the first time.

The trio - with nine, eight and six US caps respectively - make a strong case for inclusion.

Adams, 20, made 10 Bundesliga appearances after joining Leipzig from New York Red Bulls in January, and would have made more but for an adductor injury that sidelined him for six matches. He started eight games, registering one assist, and only suffered one defeat.

McKennie, also 20, turned out 33 times for Schalke in all competitions, scoring his first goals for the club in the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League. The Texan operated at right-back, centre-back, in central and attacking midfield and as a second striker, though recently revealed the box-to-box role is his preference and where Berhalter thinks his strengths lie.

Nineteen-year-old Sargent famously scored with his first touch, just 86 seconds into his Bundesliga debut in December 2018, and finished his maiden season of first-team club football with two goals and 10 top-flight appearances to his name.

Watch: Josh Sargent began his Bundesliga adventure with a bang!

Pulisic, who bid an emotional farewell to Dortmund at the end of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season ahead of his summer move to Chelsea, scored two of his four season goals in his final three appearances for the club. He also weighed in with four assists in his 20 Bundesliga outings as BVB finished runners-up behind record champions Bayern Munich.

With 23 senior international caps, the 20-year-old attacker is the most experienced Bundesliga-honed member of Berhalter's Gold Cup ensemble.

The USA will play friendlies against Jamaica (5 June) and Venezuela (9 June), before kicking off their Gold Cup defence against Guyana on 18 June. Trinidad and Tobago and Panama complete Group D.