SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras - United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann says the Americans have what he labeled "no problem" playing without long-time star Landon Donovan in Wednesday afternoon's World Cup qualifier at Honduras - even if the L.A. Galaxy standout has been a difference maker throughout the recent history of the rivalry with the Catrachos.

Donovan, who scored the winning goal in the last matchup between the two sides in World Cup qualifying - a 3-2 American victory that clinched a World Cup bid for the U.S. - has elected to take some time off from the game and the U.S. national team after the Galaxy won a second straight Major League Soccer (MLS) title in November.

"Right now he's not here, and we have no problem with that because we have a team full of talent, and a team full of players that know how to get the job done," Klinsmann said. "Because when someone's not here, someone else fills that spot, and it's a great opportunity for him. It's absolutely no problem for us."

Klinsmann cited the impressive number of young players coming through the American system as a factor in the team moving on comfortably without Donovan, and also mentioned that a number of veterans have stepped in to fill any leadership void that might have been created by the attacker's absence.

"I think it's wonderful to see players coming through and becoming those difference makers," Klinsmann said. "Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey are there, and Fabian Johnson and Jozy Altidore are maturing and growing. It's exciting to see that we have a wave of young players breaking through and becoming difference makers. They can only gain experience game by game, but we are excited about that right now."

In addition to the veterans he mentioned, Klinsmann has called in a number of less experienced players for the trip to San Pedro Sula. Seven players on the roster come from MLS, and just as many have no experience at all in World Cup qualifiers. But rather than a disadvantage, the coach looks at the roster flux as an exercise in building for the future.

"You're building the next generation and you're hoping that the players, when they get the chance to step it up and be an international player, they do it," the coach added. "Only the games will tell you, will they step it up and be ready when it's time to play?"

Klinsmann identified young defenders Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler as players with the potential to make a difference in qualifying, as the American team shifts away from not only Donovan, but also looks towards generational change on the back line, where Carlos Bocanegra has served for almost a decade.

"We need that kind of alertness, for those guys to understand their moment and build the next generation for the U.S.," Klinsmann said.

Without Donovan, the U.S. takes on Honduras on Wednesday afternoon, in the opener for both teams of the Hexagonal - CONCACAF's final round of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.