Stoke City winger Brek Shea knows he is not at full fitness to simply slot straight back into the USA setup.
The 23-year old former FC Dallas star has made just two appearances with the Potters since his January move as he continues to recover from a foot injury which required surgery in November.
As the US side prepares for World Cup qualifiers with Costa Rica (in Denver on Friday) and Mexico (in Mexico City on Tuesday), Shea is looking for any involvement in Juergen Klinsmann's line-up rather than expecting starting time because of his recent lack of game play.
"The foot it's getting there," Shea told MLSsoccer.com.
"I came back early and I've been able to play, but obviously it still bothers me a little bit. But I can play, and I want to be in here. I've been gone for a while."
He added in regard to playing time with the US: "Whatever Juergen gives me. I mean, I probably won't my foot can't take a lot, but I can play. I can definitely play.
"It's weird, because this morning it hurt and we barely played soccer tennis, and then this afternoon it felt great. So it's one of those things, where one day it feels really good and another day it doesn't feel good at all."
