Landon Donovan an exception to the rule

Coaches come and coaches go, but Landon Donovan remains as vital a player as ever for the U.S. national soccer team.

On Friday night at 8, when the U.S. plays Costa Rica in a friendly international at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Donovan is set to make his 138th appearance for his country and will seek to add to his record haul of 46 goals.

It will be his second game under new Coach Juergen Klinsmann. Like former U.S. coaches Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley, Klinsmann has long recognized Donovan’s value to the national team — his experience, his pace, his ability to read the game, his finishing.

Oh yes, and his versatility. That, in the new order of things, could be a plus or a minus.

Klinsmann said he preferred players to stick to an assigned role, to play their natural position. He cited veteran defender Carlos Bocanegra as an example.

“I don’t like to move people around,� Klinsmann said. “I don’t like to see Bocanegra play [as he occasionally has been forced to do] as a left back. I want Bocanegra to be a left centerback, because that’s where he is 100%. As a left back he might be only 90%, but I’m losing 10%. Can I afford that on the international level? No.�

So where does that leave the versatile Donovan?

“Landon is over-talented,� Klinsmann said. “I think ideally he can play the No. 10 role behind the strikers. He also can come from the wings. As long as he has the goal in front of him. He’s not a player who can play with his back to the goal.

“If you keep him on the flanks, his path will be longer toward the goal. It is easier for him, obviously, coming from the middle. ... He becomes even more dangerous because he’s closer to the goal.

“He’s certainly an exception in that way because he has the talent to do either of those things. We try to build the team around the strengths of the players and try to find their ideal roles.�

So Donovan, the exceptional player, fittingly is the exception to the rule.

Meanwhile, a lot of experimenting will be going on between now and June, when the U.S. launches its 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The U.S. roster for the Costa Rica game includes a sprinkling of veterans — Bocanegra, Donovan, goalkeeper Tim Howard — but a few other stalwarts are missing.

Right back Steve Cherundolo is being given a break and one of his heirs apparent, Tim Chandler, could take his place, although Jonathan Spector, a late roster addition, also could play right back.

Also, midfielder-forward Clint Dempsey is being treated for back spasms in London and, along with Cherundolo, will rejoin the team Sunday in Brussels for Tuesday night’s friendly against Belgium.

Michael Bradley, son of the former U.S. coach, was not called into camp while he sought to find a new club. Discarded by Aston Villa in England, on Wednesday he signed for Chievo Verona, in Italy.

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