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During a Facebook Live Q&A today, USMNT manager Bruce Arena spilled the beans on some his plans of the team’s annual January camp. He revealed several of the names he’s planning on bringing in for a look.
The most intriguing bit of news, at least in my personal opinion, is the revelation that the Vancouver Whitecaps’ Kekuta Manneh is a player he’s interested in giving a chance in the camp if he’s able to recover in time.
Manneh has been living just inside the U.S. border, despite playing his club soccer in Canada, to remain eligible throughout the naturalization process. The latest update we had was that he was eligible to apply. Apparently Bruce and U.S. Soccer think he’ll be ready.
Arena: “We’re also going to bring Kekuta Manneh into January camp.”
— Doug McIntyre (@DougMacESPN) December 16, 2016
The Gambia-born forward plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Manneh missed the second half of the MLS season after having surgery on his foot. If he’s fully recovered from that, he’ll possibly make his USMNT debut in January.
Other players that Arena says he’s going to call into the camp are Dax McCarty, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, DaMarcus Beasley, and Chris Pontius.
Bruce Arena says Dax McCarty, Chris Pontius, Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman will be among the invitees for January camp. #usmnt
— Doug McIntyre (@DougMacESPN) December 16, 2016
Arena says #USMNT winter callups include Feilhaber, Agudelo, Zardes, Nagbe, Morris, Pontius, McCarty, Rosenberry, Hedges, Zimmerman ...
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) December 16, 2016
January Camp should be a very interesting time to see all the new faces.
Here’s the full Q&A:
Bruce Arena Answers Fan Questions on #FanFridayAs part of #FanFriday, #USMNT head coach Bruce Arena is here to answer your questions.
Posted by U.S. Soccer on Friday, December 16, 2016