AMSTERDAM – Bolton boss Neil Lennon has expressed his displeasure at the US national team's handling of defender Tim Ream during the recent FIFA international fixture dates.
The Wanderers manager made his comments prior to the club's 1-1 Saturday draw with Blackpool, slating Klinsmann for calling Ream away from the club for 10 days with just one minute of friendly action to show for it.
"I haven't spoken to Tim on the matter yet, but I'm not too sure you can treat players like that," Lennon told The Bolton News. "You bring them all that way, train for 10 days, and have two games, but get one minute – it's pretty poor.
"I understand the coach might want him integrated into the squad and doing a bit of training here and there, but if he's only going to play a minute of football, we'd much rather have him here where he can have some rest and train for a week with his club in preparation for what is an important two games this weekend."
And for the second time in the last six months Lennon also complained about receiving late notice for Ream's call-ups. The Bolton boss claimed it happened with Ream's November call-up ahead of a loss in Ireland, and Lennon again says that the club was given no advance notice before receiving the official release request on the day Klinsmann announced the his most recent USMNT selection on March 22.
"I've had this conversation before, he comes on with a minute to go against the Republic of Ireland when the team are already 4-1 down and what that achieves I don't know," continued Lennon.
"We don't discourage any player from going out and playing for his country. But if that's the way things are going to go, I'm not so sure."
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
