US names Evans, Parke for football friendlies

US coach Jurgen Klinsmann added Seattle Sounders midfielder Brad Evans and defender Jeff Parke to the training roster for upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Panama.

The additions were made after Omar Gonzalez of the reigning Major League Soccer champion Los Angeles Galaxy and George John of FC Dallas withdrew from the roster to deal with club-related issues.

Parke and Evans, who helped the Sounders win the US Open Cup last year, will be part of the 20-man roster that is training for matches against Venezuela on January 21 at Glendale, Arizona, and four days later at Panama.

Parke will be among five players in the camp seeking his first US cap while Evans has made four appearances for the American side, three of them in the US run to the 2009 Gold Cup final.