GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The message delivered by US Youth Technical Director Tab Ramos, who has overseen some US U-23 camps, to striker Daniel Cuevas back in August was clear: Show me more at club level.
“He said, ‘I really want you here, but I need to hear about you more on scoresheets and stuff like that,” recalled the 21-year-old Lobos BUAP forward (above, at left) in an interview with MLSsoccer.com over the phone from Puebla on Wednesday.
It’s been a bumpy road for Cuevas since he first burst onto the consciousness of US soccer fans back in the 2013 CONCACAF Championship in Puebla.
Eighteen months on and Cuevas has suffered from an injury to his shin, been loaned to Lobos BUAP from Santos Laguna and has struggled to fulfill what Ramos has demanded in terms of playing time.
But there is evidence to suggest that pendulum is starting to swing back in Cuevas’ favor.
The stocky forward started his first match in Ascenso MX on Oct. 17 against Mérida, and he netted a goal that helped the university team to a crucial win in earning their playoff spot.
Cuevas was picked again in the following match last weekend against Atlante, featuring in an unaccustomed position on the left of midfield.
“It’s a complicated position for me because I’m not used to going back and forth – it’s a 4-4-2 system – so I have to get used to it and I’m starting to like it,” stressed Cuevas.
The Sacramento, California native is now hoping that starts in the previous two games for Lobos BUAP will lead to a run in the team for the upcoming playoffs, with the Puebla-based team kicking off the quarterfinals on Saturday at home to Mineros de Zacatecas.
“This coach has been making variations,” explained Cuevas. “We have players that can play in different positions and everybody is healthy right now so nobody really knows who he is going to take out. I’m just training my hardest to try and win a spot.”
Cuevas – who is in touch on almost a daily basis with US teammates Juan Pablo Ocegueda, Victor Pineda, Mikey Loepz and Benji Joya – has one more season left after this one on his loan deal at Lobos BUAP.
But the player admits that there is no guarantee as yet that he stays, with getting regular playing time and goals to keep Ramos happy a priority at this stage of his career.
One possibility is Argentina, where Cuevas’ agent Maxi Roditis is currently looking at options. If a move further south did happen, Cuevas would be open to the idea.
“I’d really like it,” said Cuevas. “I feel like it’s a little better because you see a lot of players go to Europe right after playing there.”
For now, though, it’s only an idea, and Cuevas’ immediate assignment is to help Lobos BUAP win a spot in next season’s promotion playoff.
