Jaelin Howell replaces injured Lindsey Horan on USWNT April roster

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Lindsey Horan has been ruled out of the upcoming training camp and matches against Russia due to a hip flexor strain.

In her place, U.S. head coach Jill Ellis has given a first call-up to 17-year-old midfielder Jaelin Howell. The 5-foot-8 Howell was a starter in the center midfield for the USA at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan last fall. Horan will remain with her club Portland Thorns FC to continue her rehabilitation.

Howell, who hails from Windsor, Colorado and plays for the same club (U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy member Real Colorado) as 18-year-old U.S. midfielder Mallory Pugh, is currently with the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team in Portland, Oregon. She will miss the USA’s third match of the Thorns Spring Invitational on April 1 against the Chicago Red Stars to join the U.S. team in Texas tomorrow.

Howell started and played 72 minutes for the U.S. U-23s against the Houston Dash on Sunday, March 26 in Portland and will be available to play against the Thorns tonight at 7:30 p.m. PT. The match will be streamed online at http://www.timbers.com/thornsfc .

The WNT also lost midfielder Morgan Brian from the training camp roster due to injury .

The USA will face Russia on April 6 at Toyota Stadium (7:30 p.m. CT on FS1 with the pre-game show starting at 7 p.m.). It will then travel to Houston for the second leg of the two-game set against Russia on April 9 at BBVA Compass Stadium (1 p.m. CT on ESPN).