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The 28-year-old midfielder, who scored in the
2019 final as the Americans won their fourth title, has been
nursing a knee injury and last played on April 8 in a friendly
against Ireland.
With captain Becky Sauerbrunn among those missing out due to
injury, U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski has selected a number of
fresh faces for the World Cup, which begins on July 20 in
Australia and New Zealand.
"Being a vocal leader doesn't really come naturally to me, so
it's definitely something - as one of the more experienced
players on the team - I have to push myself out of my comfort
zone a little to be more of a leader," Lavelle told CBS.
"It's important that we find our voice, because we're not always
going to have Becky and 'Pinoe' to lean on," she added,
referring to Sauerbrunn and Megan Rapinoe.
"I've been lucky in having the veteran players that I've gotten
to grow into this team with. It's been good getting out of my
comfort zone."
Lavelle's career has been hampered by hamstring injuries and she
said she has been working to improve her strength and
conditioning with a new personal trainer Dak Notestine, who also
trains Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Lavelle was also impressed by the depth of talent waiting to
make their mark from the bench, which has helped make up for the
absence of some key players.
"I kind of laugh when I see sometimes who we even have on the
bench," she added. "We have such amazing options and such
amazing players that have always risen to the occasion."
The U.S. begin their World Cup campaign against Vietnam on July
22.
(Reporting by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad;Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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