Gio Reyna has been praised for showcasing his “special” talent in a game-changing cameo for the USMNT that booked a Nations League final spot.
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Playmaker struggling for minutes at ForestContinues to make a difference for his countryMore major silverware up for grabs vs MexicoWHAT HAPPENED?
The 21-year-old playmaker has been struggling for game time at club level of late, with a loan move to Premier League relegation battlers Nottingham Forest not playing out as planned. He can, however, call upon the full support of his country.
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That faith was justified when stepping off the bench to deliver two assists in a CONCACAF Nations League semi-final showdown with Jamaica, with ex-USMNT star Charlie Davies telling of why Reyna still has an important role to play: “They know he’s special. After the last Nations League finals in Vegas, he put in an incredible performance before he was injured in the final. Again, comes on and changes the game. Yes, I think he knows that it’s a process. I think he has got over the toughest part, now it’s just staying healthy. He has got the special ability that not too many players have.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Those sentiments were echoed by USMNT legend Clint Dempsey, who added on a player that has helped to keep Gregg Berhalter in a job: “It’s never been a question of his ability, he has always been a player that had that quality, that potential to be a star. With the U.S. he shows that. You saw glimpses of that when he was with Dortmund. The thing is that England is a tough league to go in as an American and be successful. Whether or not that was the right move for him, we talked about it that maybe it could have been a Holland or a Spain, where he could maybe have transitioned a little better and got more minutes. To go into a dogfight, relegation battle team, it’s not easy to get minutes. But credit to him for keep fighting and showing Greg that ‘even though we had drama in the past, I saved you tonight’.”
WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?
Reyna’s efforts against Jamaica helped the U.S. to a dramatic 3-1 win in extra-time – as in-form Coventry striker Haji Wright bagged a brace. They are now preparing to face arch-rivals Mexico on Sunday, with continental silverware once again up for grabs.