There isn't a more in-form American striker in the world right now than Herculez Gomez, something that hasn't gone unnoticed by U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley.
Gomez told his club's website that he has had contact with Bradley during his recent goal-scoring binge (seven goals in 12 matches), and he acknowledged that he just keep scoring and playing more to have any realistic chance of playing in this summer's World Cup.
"The United States only has two friendlies left before the World Cup," Gomez told Pueblafutbolclub.com. "The only chance the coach has to see me is to see what I do with Puebla. There has been contact, but he has the mentality that if I can't help my club then I can't help my national team, and for that I have to get on the field."
(UPDATED- Gomez contacted SBI on Monday and told us his comments were mis-translated by the Mexican media (in this case, the Puebla website), and that he has not actually been in contact with Bob Bradley recently. He did say that his agent, Richard Motzkin, has told him that Bradley is aware of his exploits and recent success in Mexico.)
Gomez scored his seventh goal of the Mexican League season on a free kick in Puebla's 2-1 win vs. Club America on Sunday. The goal proved to be the game-winning score.
While it remains unclear just what level of contact there has been between Gomez and Bradley, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering Bradley stays in touch with dozens of players in his player pool. Gomez is no stranger to Bradley, having been a part of the U.S. national team that played in the 2007 Copa America. Gomez has earned two caps under Bradley, but none in more than two years.