Luke Young coming to Chicago I was getting a bit despondent about next weeks USA v England game at Soldier Field. Even the 4th XI were dropping out but today's announcement that Luke Young has been called into Sven's depleted squad has given me a lift.

As I have mentioned before myself, one Aussie and 8 Yanks have tickets for the friendly, the game is centre piece in a mate's birthday celebrations and as players dropped out right and left I felt responsible! "What you mean even Gary Neville's not coming too?" I've had it all week.

But, wait Luke Young will be there and I so hope he get's on because I will be there to witness his debut in my Charlton shirt. There was also news tonight that David Beckham may play too, after being told he will miss Real Madrid's last game of the season due to suspension. That will certainly cheer the 40,000 Chicagoans expected to attend.

By the way, I promised to announce the US squad and here it is. Only Man City's Claudio Reyna and Preston's Eddie Lewis are absent for manager Bruce Arena.

Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann (Reading), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Zach Thornton (Chicago Fire)

Defenders: Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Cory Gibbs (Feyenoord), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Greg Vanney (FC Dallas)

Midfielders: Bobby Convey (Reading), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), John O'Brien (ADO Den Haag), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution), Clyde Simms (D.C. United)

Forwards: Conor Casey (FSV Mainz), Eddie Johnson (FC Dallas), Brian McBride (Fulham)  ¶ 17:56