• Dest ruled out of Copa America
• Lalas says full-back 'vital' for USMNT
• Alternatives including Scally 'not even close' to level

WHAT HAPPENED?

The full-back sustained a major knee injury in training last weekend and is expected to be on the sidelines until 2025. Dest is a key part of the Stars and Stripes set up and Lalas believes Gregg Berhalter has a tough ask finding someone to fill the 23-year-old's role, with Borussia Monchengladbach star Scally deemed to be well below the required standard.

WHAT ALEXI LALAS SAID

“It's huge," Lalas said about Dest's injury on the State of the Union podcast. "I think he is, when he is healthy, an in pen starter for this national team and has been vital in terms of up and down that right hand side providing an incredible talent and ability with the ball, incredible speed.
"The big problem for Greg Berhalter and this team is nobody has yet stepped up and even challenged, even remotely challenged. And at times in the past when we have seen players play in that position, the Scallies and stuff, they have not shown that they're even close to stepping into his shoes right now.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Dest's injury puts an extremely sour note to what was a stellar year for PSV's flying full-back. His dynamism from defence had been a key feature as the Boeren dominated the Eredivisie and are on the verge of clinching a first title since 2018.

The Barcelona loanee was expected to be key piece as a young USMNT team test their mettle against South America's best at the Copa America this summer but instead, Berhalter is left with the headache of how to replace the qualities Dest provides.

WHAT NEXT FOR JOE SCALLY?

Scally gets his first opportunity to audition for the position of Dest's replacement when his Borussia Moenchengladbach side take on Union Berlin this weekend looking to put and end to any lingering relegation worries.