Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
With the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship less than six months away, Under-20 USMNT head coach Tab Ramos is giving some players on the fringes of the U-20 player pool a hard look during a July training camp.
Ramos has called in a 20-man squad for a training camp at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif, including fresh faces such as Fernando Arce Jr. of Club Tijuana and Caleb Smith of Solar Chelsea SC. Ramos did however also call some more familiar faces, including Santiago Castaño, Connor Donovan, Romain Gall, Paul Arriola, and Zach Pfeffer.
Considering the location of the camp, half of the squad hails from California, and the camp features a great mix of dual-nationals and players currently plying their trade abroad. In fact, only Castaño and Pfeffer are signed to MLS clubs.
The squad will be in camp from July 14-19 and will take part in the NTC invitational, playing matches against Australia, Bermuda, and Chile.
Here’s the U-20 USMNT training camp squad:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Zack Steffen (Maryland; Dowlington, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (7): Michael Amick (UCLA; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Conor Donovan (Railhawks Academy; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Shaquell Moore (FC Dallas; Powder Springs, Ga.), Chris Odoi-Atsem (Maryland; Mitchellville, Md.), John Requejo Jr. (Club Tijuana; Carpinteria, Calif.), Caleb Smith (Solar Chelsea SC; Arlington Texas), Jesus Vasquez (UANL Tigres; San Luis Obispo, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Fernando Arce Jr. (Club Tijuana, Chula Vista, Calif.) Russell Canouse (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; Lancaster, Pa.), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Romain Gall (FC Lorient; Herndon, Va.), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland AFC; Santa Cruz, Calif.), Jacori Hayes (Wake Forest; Bowie, Md.)
FORWARDS (5): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Bradford Jamieson (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Benji Lopez (Arizona United SC; San Diego, Calif.), Andrija Novakovich (Reading FC; Muskego, Wis.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.)
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What do you think of this squad? Glad to see more dual-nationals represented? Do you see this team winning the NTC invitational tournament?
Share your thoughts below.