3 reasons Pochettino should call Daryl Dike into the USMNT in June | OneFootball

It was just one goal in a 5-3 victory that had few competitive implications for West Bromwich Albion.

But Daryl Dike's goal Saturday was also so much more than that, a first goal in any competition in 483 days and first in league play in 781 days.

And just maybe, his first goal in his first start of any sort since January 2024 has put the former Orlando City center forward on Mauricio Pochettino's radar.

The possibility is more indicative of the U.S. men's national team's current lack of depth at the position than thinking one EFL Championship goal is enough to earn a call during normal circumstances.

But these aren't normal circumstances for Dike or the USMNT, which is why Pochettino should call the brawny marksman into camp for a pair of June friendlies followed by the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Here's three reasons:

Dike needs the games

While scoring and playing 62 minutes has to feel satsfying following his nightmarish stretch that included two separate recoveries from a torn Achilles tendon, the end of the EFL Championship comes at an undeniably inconvenient time.

Dike first returned to first-team action in mid-February, but before Saturday had yet to play more than a half-hour plus stoppage time in any match and finished the campaign with 11 appearances.

While summer international commitments can be a drain on players coming off a full season, the chance to play in up to eight more matches while keeping in game shape could be extremely helpful for Dike after barely getting to stretch his legs in West Brom's stretch run.

Another potential confidence boost

After seeing the impact a call-up had on Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna and the Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White, Pochettino might also hope to give Dike a mental boost with a call following an undeniably difficult stretch.

There's no guarantee it would work, of course. But with Ricardo Pepi still unavailable following a knee injury and Josh Sargent having played a full season for Norwich (and still failing to snap his USMNT scoreless stretch in the March window), there could be room for Dike in the group.

And there may be plenty of opportunities to find his scoring form again, particularly in the Gold Cup where the USA will be strong favorites against Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saudi Arabia.

A different element

And although Dike may not be one of the most deserving forwards on form, his physicality brings something unique to the group.

While he's not explicitly an old-fashioned, back-to-goal striker, Dike has that potential moreso than any recent USMNT striker since Jozy Altidore.

And Pochettino is one of the more tactically flexible managers. Dike's inclusion could give him a chance to examine how his team functions with a more direct approach.