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Former United States under-20 midfielder Russell Canouse is headed to the Bundesliga after being promoted to the Hoffenheim first team this week. The 17th-placed club is struggling this season and aren't being helped by a rash of injuries in their midfield. Canouse won't be complaining as the shortage of players has led to his first team promotion.
Canouse was a big part of the USA U-20 team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. Unfortunately he was unable to participate in that tournament because of right ankle injury. Many point to his withdrawal from the World Cup roster as a big reason for the team's departure from that tournament. Without a steady defensive midfielder like Canouse, the team struggled to compete in the midfield with bigger teams.
This promotion is the next big step in the 20-year-old's career, but it's hard to judge if he'll get much playing time. If anything it shows the promise he has if Hoffenheim are relegated. Playing time in the 2.Bundesliga should be a lot easier to come by for him if that indeed happens. The club is currently three points from safety.