US coach wants first choice defenders to deliver

Philadelphia: The United States' injury plagued defence will face a major test when they take on Turkey in their 'send-off' game on Saturday before leaving for the World Cup.

Coach Bob Bradley fielded a largely second-string side in the 4-2 home loss to the Czech Republic on Tuesday but after slimming his squad down to the final 23 he will now look to his likely starters.

"It's a game where we certainly will have a team that's much closer to our regular team," Bradley told reporters on Friday.

The United States open their World Cup Group C campaign against England on June 12 before taking on Slovenia and Algeria.

Bradley's preparations have been hampered by injuries, of varying seriousness, to some key players particularly in defence.

Left-back Carlos Bocanegra has had problems with his hernia, Jay DeMerit's season was interrupted by vision problems but Bradley said he expected both to play.

After the errors against the Czechs, Bradley said he was focusing on getting a tighter display from his defensive unit.

"We'll continue to work hard on defending as a team, we understand that as you get into tournaments like this that's critical," he said.

Centre half Oguchi Onyewu, the linchpin of the defence in qualification, returned against the Czechs after seven months out following knee surgery.

The Milan defender looked short of full match fitness against the Czechs but Bradley said Onyewu was gradually getting there.

"When I look back over the time we've been in this camp and the last game, he's made some good progress, so that's positive," he said.

Bradley's first choice defence is likely to consist of Steve Cherundolo at rightback, DeMerit and Onyewu in the centre of defence and Bocanegra at leftback.

The game should also give a clue to Bradley's thinking in attack with Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey considered the most probable pairing.

Bradley has opted to include in the squad two forwards who did not feature in qualification, Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle, who have both been in prolific form at club level and they will likely feature at some stage.

The final United States warm-up game will be against Australia in South Africa on June 5.