By OkayGoal 
Christian Pulisic is back in the U.S. men’s national team fold for the first time this summer.
Pulisic was included in Mauricio Pochettino’s 24-player roster for this month’s friendlies against South Korea and Japan. The 26-year-old AC Milan star received ample criticism earlier this year after missing on the USMNT’s involvement at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Former USMNT players Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas and others questioned Pulisic’s commitment to the program after he asked to only feature in June’s pair of home friendlies before departing camp ahead of the Gold Cup schedule. Pulisic later admitted that Pochettino and his coaching staff did not want to have two separate rosters for the slate of matches, which led to the Pennsylvania native to receive a needed break from action.
Since his return to club action with AC Milan, Pulisic has scored two goals in three matches, with both coming in victories for the Rossoneri. He’s trained throughout the week in Harrison, New Jersey, as Pulisic prepares for his first USMNT cap since March’s Nations League window.
Pochettino was asked about Pulisic’s return to the squad this week, reaffirming the star attacker’s important presence.
“For me, it’s in the past, these type of things that happen..we all make mistakes, sometimes because we read the situation in a different way,” said Pochettino in his prematch press conference Friday. “Christian is happy to be here, of course he’s an important player for us and the mood is good.”
Pulisic has earned 78 caps for the USMNT to date while his 32 international goals are ranked fifth on the program’s all-time goalscoring ranks.