GUADALAJARA, Mexico — American forward Jamel Johnson is currently in Mexico on a 10-day trial at Pachuca and is training with the first team alongside fellow countryman and trialist DaMarcus Beasley, MLSsoccer.com has learned.
Johnson, who played for the last six months at Danish second-division club FC Fyn, arrived in Mexico last weekend and has already joined the rest of the Pachuca squad, including American José Francisco Torres, in preseason training.
The 21-year-old’s agent says Johnson will have to work hard during the trial to impress Pachuca manager Efraín Flores and earn a place in the Tuzos squad for the upcoming Apertura 2011 season.
“Pachuca is a storied club with many young talents and he will clearly need to be exceptional to earn a contract,” Robert Feigenson told MLSsoccer.com by phone. “The technical staff will hopefully see his potential and his commitment to the cause. We just have to hope this trial will lead to something.”
The Miami-area native — not to be confused with fellow American attacker Jemal Johnson — has previously trained with Roeselare in Belgium as well as Hannover and Hansa Rostock in Germany. He was also capped for the US at the U-17 and U-18 levels. His preferred position is second striker but he can also play on the wing.
Johnson's 10-day trial is scheduled to end on June 15.
