Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Following a week-long training camp in California under the watchful eye of U.S. Under-18 National Team head coach Javier Perez and his staff, 18 players have earned places in the U.S. squad for an international tournament in France.
Among those selected include three players who currently ply their trade abroad. Midfielder Kyle Scott is in the Chelsea FC academy, Emerson Hyndman stars for the Fulham FC academy nearby, and Rubio Rubin is in his first year in the FC Utrecht setup in Holland. In addition to the foreign-based players, four players come from Major League Soccer academies, with Erik Palmer-Brown of Sporting Kansas City the only professional of the group.
The competition, which takes place from October 6-14 in Limoges, France, sees the USA playing the U-18 teams of France, Poland, and the Czech Republic. 12 players on the roster were born in 1996, while six were born in 1997. The squad departs for France on October 6.
Here’s the U.S. Under-18 MNT roster for the international tournament in France:
U.S. UNDER-18 ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS: Jeff Caldwell (NC Fusion; Todd, N.C.), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; Alamo, Calif.)
DEFENDERS: Conor Donovan (Capital Area Railhawks Academy; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Chase Gasper (Bethesda Olney; Alexandria, Va.), Shaquell Moore (IMG Academy; Powder Springs, Ga.), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting KC; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), Tommy Redding (Chicago Magic; Oviedo, Fla.)
MIDFIELDERS: Mukwelle Akale (Minnesota Thunder; Minneapolis, Minn.), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake AZ; Escondido, Calif.), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham FC; Plano, Texas), Kyle Scott (Chelsea FC; Winterbourne, Bristol), Ben Swanson (Crew Soccer Academy; Grove City, Ohio), Tyler Turner (IMG Academy; Meriden, Conn.)
FORWARDS: Andrija Novakovich (Chicago Magic PSG; Muskego, Wis.), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht; Beaverton, Ore.), Ahinga Selemani (CSA Wolves; Ann Arbor, Mich.), Alan Winn (Solar Chelsea SC; Garland, Texas), Dembakwi Yomba (Concorde Fire; Lithona, Ga.)
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What do you think of this squad? Happy to see Rubin and Hyndman included in the side? Do you see anyone having a breakout performance from this group?
Share your thoughts below.