Teal Bunbury needs a barber.
"Three weeks without haircut, eessh," he tells MLSsoccer.com over the phone. "But I got that situation handled."
It's been a whirlwind month for the Sporting Kansas City forward, during which hair maintenance played second fiddle to soccer experience.
He spent 10 days with the undefeated Generation adidas crew in Spain -- scoring three goals, including two against Athletico Madrid's reserves -- before training with Stoke City for a week-and-a-half.
Even though Bunbury tallied for the Potters reserves during his time there, he insists nothing will come immediately from his time spent under the watchful eye of Dave Kemp. As planned, he returned to the United States in time for Christmas and tried to wrap his head around the past half-year.
[inlinenode:324455]"I wouldn't use the word surprised," he says when asked about his recent success. "I wasn't expecting for all these things to happen, but I wasn't surprised. You always want the best things to happen. Things in the past four or five months have gone really well."
Bunbury earned his first call to the United States national team for the squad's November match in South Africa. The Canadian-born forward appeared for the Maple Leafs’ U-17 and U-20 sides, but he and his family decided suiting up for the Red, White and Blue would be the best career move. When Bob Bradley called a week before the trip to Cape Town, Bunbury accepted the invitation from his new manager.
Judging by his first appearance in a Stars and Stripes uniform, he made a good choice.
The 2010 Hermann Trophy winner entered at the start of the second half against Bafana Bafana. While Juan Agudelo and Mikkel Diskerud would go on to earn the attacking headlines, it was Bunbury's insertion into the lineup that convinced the young American side they could score. The Sporting forward demonstrated he can use his size and strength to hold off defenders, while also showing glimpses of his improving field vision.
He'll get another chance to impress Bradley during the American's January camp. Bunbury will join Adugelo, Justin Braun and Chris Wondolowski in the strikeforce, and should see at least 45 minutes against Chile on Jan. 22. In the future, he'll compete for the target forward spot Jozy Altidore currently occupies at the top of the American formation.
It's a dramatic ascent for a player who was contesting the College Cup at Akron just 12 months ago. He won't admit the sudden notoriety is overwhelming, but it is new.
"I'm definitely not used to it," Bunbury says, sounding weary during his fifth interview of the day. "It's not a tough thing to handle it. You just have to have the right people around you and make the right decisions."
[inlinenode:324873]Having a father who lined up for Sporting Kansas City (back when they were called the Kansas City Wizards) certainly helps navigate the waters of impending stardom. The younger Bunbury -- the trivia answer to the question "Who is the first son for a former MLS player to be drafted into the league?" -- can count on good counsel from his well-traveled pops, who brought his son along while he played in England and Portugal.
Sage advice will be vital in the coming MLS campaign as Bunbury will have to fight for playing time. Omar Bravo joins the striker on a crowded forward line that also includes Kei Kamara and Ryan Smith. Peter Vermes' wealth of riches might hurt Bunbury in his quest to find the field, and he may start the season in the role of super-sub. It's a spot he'll accept, but one that's not ideal.
"As long as I'm playing I'll be happy, but I'd be more into wanting to start," Bunbury says.
If 2011 is anything like the previous six months, he shouldn't have to wait long.
Noah Davis covers the United States national team for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on Twitter at @noahedavis.
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