Position: Midfielder
Born: 29.08.77
Club: Chivas USA

Named in the squad despite having managed just 44 minutes in qualifying, John O'Brien has suffered huge injury problems since the last World Cup.

One of his country's most accomplished midfielders, the 28-year-old was struck down by an Achilles injury while playing in the Dutch Eredivisie for Ajax in the 2002/03 season and has suffered terrible luck ever since.

Comfortable on the ball and with an excellent eye, O'Brien came through the famed Ajax youth system and after his first-team breakthrough quickly became a regular on the left wing for the Amsterdammers.

But his injury problems saw him moved on initially to another Dutch team in ADO Den Haag but that back 'home' to current club Chivas USA.

He made his international debut some eight years ago in a friendly against Austria, took part in the Sydney Olympics two years later and his caps tally of just a shade over 25 is an injustice to a man of such unquestioned ability.