[AMERICANS ABROAD] Sebastian Lletget, one of the top prospects in the cycle of under-23 players who failed to qualify for 2012 Olympics, has signed a contract extension at English club West Ham United. The 20-year-old Lletget, who has been with the Hammers since 2009 but whose progress was set back by illness and injuries, has suited up for several EPL matches this season and has been moved to a more advanced position on the Hammers' U-21s for whom he has started all but one game.

"I think what the manager's trying to get into my game is to for me to get into the box and making chances and creating things," Lletget told West Ham TV. "As the season goes on, I'm playing in a different position, I'm more advanced and as long as I'm getting in there the chances will come."

Lletget was born to Argentine parents and grew up in Northern California, where he played for Sporting Santa Clara before moving to the U.S. U-17 residency program.

He was one of the stars of the USA's 2009 U-17 qualifying campaign in Tijuana, but was not on Coach Wilmer Cabrera's team in Nigeria after he moved to West Ham.

Lletget returned two years later and started in U-20 national team that failed to qualify for the 2011 world championship in Colombia.

His progress at West Ham was stymied by a severe case of mononucleosis, but he has been playing well for the U-21s, who are first in their group.