By IVES GALARCEP

The month of December was a slow one on the U.S. Men’s National Team player depth chart front, with MLS winding to a close, and a lower number of Americans enjoying regular success overseas, but what the month has done is give us some time to reflect on how the U.S. team will shape up in the Gold Cup.

Terrence Boyd’s torn ACL did offer a shake-up at the forward position, and throws a bit more uncertainty into the forward picture.

The battle in midfield is shaping up to be a good one, both centrally and on the wings. With Brek Shea returning to MLS, and players like Teal Bunbury and Joe Corona also in the mix, the midfield picture may not really come into focus until the late spring.

As we get to the end of the year, here is a look at the latest SBI 23 for 2015:

Projected USMNT Gold Cup Roster (December 2014 Edition)

(New additions in BOLD)

GOALKEEPERS

Brad Guzan, Nick Rimando, Bill Hamid

Outlook- Guzan’s hold on the top spot only grows stronger, and not much else has changed among the cast of MLS contenders chasing him.

Missed the Cut– Sean Johnson, Steve Clark, Cody Cropper

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DEFENDERS

Jermaine Jones, Greg Garza, Fabian Johnson, Matt Besler, John Brooks, Omar Gonzalez, DeAndre Yedlin, Timmy Chandler.

Outlook-No budging in this group, though the situations surrounding some players will require close monitoring in the coming months. Yedlin’s move to Tottenham is now complete and his role on the Gold Cup team could be determined by just how much playing time he can garner with Spurs. Then you have Fabian Johnson, who has been struggling for minutes since making the move to Borussia Moenchengladbach.

DaMarcus Beasley’s national team retirement clears things up a bit at left back, with Garza remaining the frontrunner and someone like Robbie Rogers gaining momentum. Brooks has solidified his place with a strong run of performances since regaining a starting role with Hertha Berlin.

Missed the Cut– Tim Ream, Matt Hedges, Michael Orozco, Robbie Rogers, Chris Schuler, Eric Lichaj, A.J. Soares.

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MIDFIELDERS

Michael Bradley, Alejandro Bedoya, Mix Diskerud, Kyle Beckerman, Lee Nguyen, Geoff Cameron, Graham Zusi, Julian Green.

Outlook– Klinsmann will have some interesting decisions to make as he finds himself with a wealth of options in midfield. That isn’t to say the pool is stacked with can’t-miss types, but rather that there are several candidates comparably rated vying for a handful of midfield slots.

Right now we’ll slot in Zusi and Green, even though Green is struggling for minutes on loan at Hamburg and Zusi had his share of struggles after the World Cup. They won’t hold on to those slots though unless they show something in the first half of 2015, and players like Joe Gyau and Harrison Shipp could break though.

Another wing option to consider is Brek Shea, who has secured a return to MLS, and some regular playing time that could see him climb back into Klinsmann’s good graces.

In central midfield, Joe Corona remains on the outside looking in as he recovers from the foot injury that cut short his 2014. His versatility in midfield can push him right back into the 23 if he regains his regular role at Club Tijuana.

Missed the Cut– Alfredo Morales, Joe Corona, Wil Trapp, Danny Williams, Joe Gyau, Perry Kitchen, Harrison Shipp, Luis Gil, Miguel Ibarra, Brek Shea, Teal Bunbury.

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FORWARDS

Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Aron Johannsson, Rubio Rubin.

Outlook- Terrence Boyd’s torn ACL essentially rules him out of the Gold Cup, leaving a precious vacancy at the forward position. Rubin may be the youngest forward in the mix, but he has enjoyed success with Dutch side FC Utrecht and we can see Klinsmann wanting to give the young forward as much high-level experience as possible.

Rubin will have some competition for that spot. LA Galaxy striker Gyasi Zardes is coming off an outstanding season and has a very good shot at playing himself onto the Gold Cup team if he can follow up his outstanding 2014 season with another

Missed the Cut– Gyasi Zardes, Chris Wondolowski, Bobby Wood, Jordan Morris, Charlie Davies, Andrew Wooten.

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What do you think of this group of 23 players? Who are you happy to see included in the squad? Who is missing that you feel should have made the cut?

Share your thoughts below.