KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Media reports in England may have labeled Teal Bunbury’s time at Stoke City a trial, but those journalists never spoke to Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes.
Back in the United States, Vermes set the record straight by making it clear the promising striker will be back in 2011.
"[Teal] went over for a training experience,” Vermes said. “But, as we all know, any player that is training or in a friendly game or in a game is always being looked at by somebody. There is no doubt that somebody could be watching the game and have interest in Teal, but at the end of the day he is signed with the league and us."
After the success Bunbury has enjoyed since Kansas City’s season ended in October, the "trial" rumors are understandable.
The 20-year-old forward impressed during Generation adidas' recent unbeaten tour of Spain, scoring three goals and adding one assist in three games. He followed that up by scoring another goal in reserve game while training with EPL side Stoke.
[inline_node:324455]Then there's Bunbury’s first senior international call up, camp and cap with the United States in South Africa. Though he was perhaps out-shined by goalscorer and fellow debutante Juan Agudelo, Bunbury showed plenty of promise in 45 minutes of action.
Vermes said he thought the sum of those experiences were exactly what Bunbury needed after a rookie year in which he forced his way on the field in the second half of the season.
“I heard a number of guys who started getting more time at the end of the season saying ‘I wish the season didn’t end because I feel like now I’m getting into form,’” Vermes said. “For him, I think it’s a welcome thing. To be an international player you need to be able to play consistently like that for many months, many games and travel. He is just getting a taste of what that’s like right now.”
And Bunbury will likely have even more on his plate come January.
Between his performance in South Africa and the fact that Bob Bradley is expected to call in a young group composed mostly of players based in MLS and Scandinavia, Vermes said he believes Bunbury will get another look.
“I think there is a very good chance that he will be going into the January camp,” Vermes said. “I think it only make sense. That’s the big time when they can really look at a large pool of players. I don’t see why they wouldn’t take him at that point, especially getting his last trip here and his debut. I think it’s a perfect time to do it.”
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