Jurgen Klinsmann says Brad Guzan will start vs. Mexico over Tim Howard

Competition between Guzan and Howard is not expected to pick up until after USA-Mexico in October.

U.S. men's national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann told reporters that Brad Guzan will be the team's first option at goalkeeper despite Tim Howard's return for friendlies against Peru and Brazil and expects him to start against Mexico on Oct. 10. That match will determine which team advances to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.

SI's Grant Wahl reports that Klinsmann does not expect to split this week's friendlies against Peru and Brazil between the two goalkeepers and that Guzan should start both games. 

Howard returns to the national team after a one-year international hiatus following a 2014 World Cup that included his record-setting 15-save performance in the round-of-16 match against Belgium. The 36-year-old is coming off a clean sheet against Tottenham on Saturday.

• STRAUS: USMNT veterans return but must earn roles back vs. Peru, Brazil

Guzan was between the posts for the USMNT's semifinal loss to Jamaica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July. He won Golden Glove honors as the best goalkeeper in the competition despite the USA coming up short.

- Christopher Chavez