Justen Glad, at just 19 years old, has surprised plenty of people with his play on the field for Real Salt Lake this season. In fact, his skills, combined with those of Aaron Maund, precluded any more center backs from joining the team during this past transfer window.
And after RSL training this week, right back Tony Beltran said has to remind himself just how inexperienced Glad is at times. "“Sometimes I forget how young he is," Beltran said. "It's pretty incredible at his age.”
Glad’s talent has spurred other talk beyond club play, too. On the broadcast of RSL's 3-1 win over Chicago this past Saturday, commentator Brian Dunseth opined that Glad should be called in for January’s US national team camp.
Considering everything else that has happened this season, it wouldn’t be that surprising. “Absolutely he's deserving,” Beltran said.
Glad has started 18 of the 19 games he has played in this year, and has already tripled the amount of minutes he played last year. He’s scored a goal and made an assist so far, helping RSL currently sit third in the Western Conference and remain one of four teams still unbeaten at home.
“I think he's knocking on the door,” RSL head coach Jeff Cassar said of Glad's prospects with the USMNT. “If you look at the cycle for the national team, this is the time to get young players in that in three, four years can be contributing. Can Justen be one of those players? Absolutely. We have a few players on our team that can be in that conversation.”
Finishing out the season, especially if he’s able to help keep RSL in the Supporters’ Shield race and in the Western Conference title hunt, will further increase Glad's odds of getting that call.
“There's a lot of time for him,” Cassar said. “He's got to concentrate on his work that he's doing here on our team, because that's what's getting him noticed. If he stays focused I'm sure the phone will be ringing at some point for him absolutely.”
Glad and RSL travel to face the Sounders, in Seattle, on Sunday (7 pm ET, FS1, MLS LIVE in Canada).
