The U.S. U-20 National Team is one month from heading to New Zealand for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. This week, Head Coach Tab Ramos called in 20 players for camp in Linz, Austria, that will include matches against Qatar on Tuesday and Croatia on Saturday.
Real Salt Lake all-purpose player Jordan Allen was included on the roster, but remained with RSL for yesterday’s 1-0 defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
“It’s always an honor to get called up by the National Team, especially after the year I’ve had. And with the injury I had I wasn’t sure if I was even going to be able to showcase myself leading up to the U-20 World Cup,” Allen said in a radio interview with The Bill & OC Show on Friday. “I’m looking forward to it. I just want to put forth my best effort and hopefully make a case that I should be on the final roster for New Zealand this summer.”
Allen, who will celebrate his 20th birthday on the day of the Croatia match, has appeared in all six RSL matches to this point, including two starts. His first MLS goal came as a match-winner against Toronto FC on March 29.
This after last year suffering an injury in the second match of the season that sidelined him for the full season. Since returning to training in preseason, he has progressed into a position to earn 214 minutes and he is one of only six RSL players that have appeared in all six matches this season.
“For me, it’s all about just making small steps. That means that my goals are constantly changing. It keeps me motivated. I’ve always got something new in front of me,” Allen said. “Right now, my goals have been similar in that I just want to keep making the 18 and giving Coach Cassar something to think about.”
Allen will miss RSL’s match against the New England Revolution on Saturday and will return ahead of a pair of home matches to start the month of May against the San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy.
To hear the full interview, click here.
