BOSTON—After making his first US men’s national team appearance of 2015 against Peru on Friday, Geoff Cameron is ready to make another big return Tuesday, when he will have the opportunity to suit up in front of a hometown crowd.
A native of Attleboro, Massachusetts, the US defender grew up a short drive from Gillette Stadium, where the US will face Brazil in a friendly (8 pm ET, ESPN2, UniMas, UDN). It’ll be Cameron’s first opportunity to play in front of friends and family in his home state since leaving the Houston Dynamo for Stoke City and the English Premier League in 2012.
"It’s good to be back here, enjoying this nice weather and to get back on the pitch in front of them,” said Cameron to the media on Monday. “It’s great. There’s no added pressure. Just go out there and play my game and help the team as much as I can.”
The 30-year-old has certainly helped, subbing on at right back for Michael Orozco after halftime during the national team's 2-1 victory against Peru on Friday in Washington, D.C., where he played a key role in setting up the first US goal.
Cameron has featured at center back for Stoke this year, but slotted in at fullback with the USMNT due to the absences of regular outside defenders DaMarcus Beasley and Fabian Johnson, as well as a crowded pool at center back.
“We always try put it together, the puzzle, the best way we believe is helping the team to get a result,” said US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “We see the competition in the center back roles, we see the situation with the full backs: Fabian Johnson not there, DaMarcus Beasley on the other side, not there.
“In this moment now, coming in, he’s a strong character, he’s a little bit intimidating also, and maybe we need him more on the right side to close them down. Whatever we feel like is best for the team in order to perform as a unit together, is the best we do it. Not going too deep into the discussion of what’s best for him, it’s what’s best for the team.”
Klinsmann’s team-first sentiment is one the defender echoes.
“I have no complaints,” Cameron said. "I just want to be on the field. That’s the most important thing for me. If Jurgen needs me to do this, or do that, I’ll be there to do it, because that’s what the team needs, and I’m here to help out the team.”
Cameron hadn’t been in camp with the national team since last November, due to fitness and Stoke's preference for keeping him with the club,. But with a clean bill of health and solid run of form at center back, the University of Rhode Island product is ready to keep things rolling with the USMNT.
“I feel good, feel sharp,” Cameron said. “I had little nagging injuries after the World Cup. I had a sports hernia, then had little injuries throughout the season that kind of hindered me a little bit. But now, taking the summer off and recovering and getting the rest and making sure I was 100 percent for this preseason with Stoke, I felt sharp and played every game preseason-wise and I feel like I’ve started off the season well.
“I just want to keep the momentum. The hardest thing as a player is consistency and being consistent is the hardest thing. For me, it’s just keeping my head down, working hard and staying focused and doing the things I want to do.”
