FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Prior to the start of the season, Juan Agudelo thought that the best way to get back on the US national team was by not thinking about it.
That was easy for the New England Revolution forward, who instead concentrated on his club endeavors, getting re-acclimated with his old club and becoming a dad for the first time.
Just six matches into his return to New England, and with plenty else to occupy his mind, he received what he dubbed “a very nice email” informing him that he had been called up by the USMNT for Wednesday’s friendly versus Mexico (8:30 pm ET, FS1 and UniMás). Agudelo's last appearance for the USA? March 2014 in a five-minute cameo appearance vs. Ukraine.
“It was a lot of emotions,” Agudelo said about the US call-up after a 0-0 draw vs. Columbus Crew SC on Saturday night. “I’m very grateful, very happy to be back. That’s what I tried to do, just focus on performing well, playing every weekend, starting and getting a lot of touches in games and trying to do everything I can to help out the team. I’m happy to be rewarded for the effort.”
In 2010 Agudelo became the youngest player ever to score for the US senior team when he found the back of the net in his first appearance, giving the USA a 1-0 victory over South Africa (WATCH IT HERE). He was just six days shy of his 18th birthday.
The now 22-year-old has a total of 18 USMNT caps with 14 of those coming in 2011, including five in CONCACAF Gold Cup matches.
But he has made just one USMNT appearance in each of the past three years, and he has not been called up during the Stoke City saga that left him without a club until he re-signed with the Revolution in January.
“Everything feels like it used to be,” Agudelo said. “Now I’m just happy to get the ball rolling down the hill.”
Praised for his size, skill and creative hold-up game at forward, Agudelo, who scored on a highlight reel flick over Colorado’s Clint Irwin two weeks ago(WATCH IT HERE), has also slid out to the wing on occasion this season.
That versatility will surely come in handy when reintegrating himself into Jurgen Klinsmann’s system, one that Agudelo feels suits his style.
“I think it’s a system where you have to understand where to play your role and your position,” Agudelo said. “You have to be understanding of your teammates and when they press and not to press.”
It will be a short turnaround, so the time to fit into the system and showcase his trademark “Swagudelo” playing style will carry a more concentrated urgency.
“Juan’s been doing great,” said teammate Lee Nguyen, who will join Agudelo on the USMNT in San Antonio. “It’s a big opportunity for him. We obviously are familiar with each other so that’s a plus to have him on the team as well.”
“I’m going to try and do everything I can to show what I got and show that I should stay in the pool,” Agudelo said. “It’s a short little call-up, because we return on Thursday, but I’m trying to make the most out of it.”
Craig Forde covers the New England Revolution for MLSsoccer.com.
