For years, fullback has been a position of need for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Since the retirement of Steve Cherundolo, the U.S. has had no consistent, go-to fullback on either side. Midfielders Fabian Johnson and DaMarcus Beasley were shuffled back, DeAndre Yedlin was frequently shuffled forward and a whole other host of players have come in and failed to truly compete for a consistent starting gig.

Keegan Rosenberry doesn’t know if he’s the answer to the USMNT’s extended fullback woes. It’s only his first camp, after all, and his first taste of what it’s like to compete at the international level. Rosenberry doesn’t yet know how he’ll stack up against the best, but he’s more than ready to try.

After a standout season with the Philadelphia Union, Rosenberry is one of six USMNT debutants scattered throughout the January camp. They’re all players tasked with making a good first impression, all players hoping to make this experience count as they pursue additional U.S. call-ups. However, of the new faces, Rosenberry may have the most to prove, as a big performance could see him jump right into the depth chart for a position in need.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Rosenberry said. “I was honored just to get called in, but the fact that there’s talk about positional need in the position I play is exciting for me. Hopefully I can do my best to make a good impression and hopefully this isn’t the last time I’m called in.”

It almost certainly won’t be, especially given Rosenberry’s achievements on the club level. At just 23 years old, Rosenberry played every minute during the 2016 MLS season, giving the Union an All-Star defender on the right side. Throughout his rookie campaign, Rosenberry showed he has the talent to go one-on-one with any attacker in MLS, thwarting several of the league’s biggest names while helping the new-look Union reach the postseason.

Now, he’s looking to leverage that momentum into a role with the USMNT. Veterans DaMarcus Beasley and Greg Garza look set to hold down the left side, while Graham Zusi has been pegged as a right back as the U.S. continues camp. The Sporting KC star played there on occasion throughout the club season, but a more consistent move into defense is very much a January experiment for a team still looking for options at fullback.

With players like Yedlin and Timmy Chandler still battling for their clubs in Europe, January gives Rosenberry, and Zusi, a unique chance to impress, much like every other player on the roster.

“They can all make an impression,” Arena said. “Obviously, I think the outside back positions are a little thin if we look at our overall pool, so it’s good opportunity for a player like (Rosenberry).

“I think we get to see (the newcomers) and see what kind of quality they have and see if they’re players for the future,” he added. “Even if it’s not in the short term, perhaps even in the summer with the Gold Cup, maybe one makes a point to get strong consideration at some point this year.”

The USMNT call-up is just Rosenberry’s second-ever taste of the international game, and his first wasn’t a true look at what it was like to represent his country on the field. He had never been called up to any U.S. youth national teams before joining the U.S. for a Under-23 college identification camp prior to turning professional. The whole process is new to him.

With that in mind, it’s up to Rosenberry to make the statement necessary to earn additional looks. Friendlies against Serbia and Jamaica will give him the chance to prove his mettle against international competition while giving him his first taste of what it’s like to play for the USMNT.

Still, those matches are nearly two weeks away, and Rosenberry still has a lot of work to do before taking the field. He’s ready to do it and, in turn, make the push necessary to compete for a USMNT spot that has proven problematic for years.

“I think the biggest difference between club and here is the speed,” Rosenberry said. “Everyone is trying to earn a spot and make first impressions with Bruce here, and you can tell in these first couple sessions that everyone is working hard. Especially in the tighter drills, everything is higher paced, and that’s for everybody, not just the first-time guys here. We’re doing our best to get used to it.”