May. 29, 2024 17:22 PM EST

Tyler Adams Among 12 Players At First Day Of Us Training Ahead Of Copa América

FILE - Tyler Adams of the United States runs on the pitch during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 25, 2022. Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Matt Turner and Tim Ream will be given the three weeks ahead of the Copa America to regain sharpness during U.S. team training after seeing little playing time over the final three months of their club seasons. “We have friendly games to build up their fitness and get them ready,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Monday, May 20, 2024, after announcing a 27-man roster for pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia on June 8 at Landover, Maryland, and Brazil four days later at Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) Julio Cortez, ASSOCIATED PRESS
FILE - Tyler Adams of the United States runs on the pitch during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and The United States, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Nov. 25, 2022. Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Matt Turner and Tim Ream will be given the three weeks ahead of the Copa America to regain sharpness during U.S. team training after seeing little playing time over the final three months of their club seasons. “We have friendly games to build up their fitness and get them ready,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Monday, May 20, 2024, after announcing a 27-man roster for pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia on June 8 at Landover, Maryland, and Brazil four days later at Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — U.S. captain Tyler Adams, coming off a season at Bournemouth limited by injuries, was among 12 players who started training with the U.S. on Wednesday ahead of the Copa América.

The 25-year-old defensive midfielder played just one club match from March 2023 until this past March 13 because of a torn right hamstring that needed surgery. After returning to play two matches for Bournemouth in March, the midfielder was limited by back spasms to one game over the rest of the season, an 11-minute appearance on May 11.

“He’s looking fit,” U.S. assistant coach B.J. Callaghan said. "We've had a really great partnership with Bournemouth over the last couple of weeks, to make sure that we’ve developed a plan that’s going to allow him to maximize his performance here, throughout the friendlies and Copa."

The U.S. has exhibitions against Colombia on June 8 and Brazil four days later, before first-round matches against Bolivia (June 23), Panama (June 27) and Uruguay (July 1).

Goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath, defenders Chris Richards and Joe Scally, midfielders Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman and Luca de la Torre, and forwards Brenden Aaronson, Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent and Haji Wright also were at the first day of what will be the full player pool's most extended training camp since the 2022 World Cup.

Callaghan said the goal is to “try to solidify a lot of the principles and identity that we want to play with.”

Fourteen more players are due to report by Sunday.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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