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English news outlet the Daily Mail have published an article on Thursday claiming that Jurgen Klinsmann is set to put Tottenham Hotspur defender and dual-national Cameron Carter-Vickers on the fast-track to the U.S. men’s national team out of fear that England will come calling.
The 18-year-old, who made his senior team debut for Spurs in the League Cup during midweek, is eligible to play for both the USA and England. He was born in Southend, UK but has represented the U.S. youth national teams. Since he hasn’t been cap-tied to the USMNT, he could still switch his allegiances.
Frankly, anything the Daily Mail reports shouldn’t be taken very seriously. They are the same publication who claimed that Klinsmann was meeting with England in the Summer and that turned out to be false. But, it’s an interesting topic and a logical way of thinking since CCV is impressing in England is eligible for their national team.
Is it time for Jurgen to make the call and get him cap-tied? Unfortunately he’s dug himself a little bit of a hole. If the cap-tying scenario was in his mind, the time to do it would’ve been earlier this month against Vincy Heat and/or Trinidad and Tobago.
The next official matches, and Mexico and Costa Rica, will be two of the most important the USMNT will play until the 2018 World Cup (assuming they make it that far). There’s just no room for experimenting of speculative call-ups. Unless Klinsmann actually thinks Carter-Vickers is one of his best center-back options. I don’t know what he thinks on the subject, perhaps it’s possible.
With John Brooks battling an injury and not expect back until early October, it’s possible CCV could sneak his way onto the November World Cup qualifying roster if a regular defensive player cannot make it.