Rookie of the Year trying to impress Bradley

• MLSnet.com, Friday, January 22, 2010 12:30 PM

2009 MLS Rookie of the Year Omar Gonzalez, 21, is one of the long-shots in 30-player squad at the USA's Southern California training camp trying to prove himself worthy of Coach Bob Bradley's national team that is preparing for next summer's World Cup.

"I've been doing OK," Gonzalez said. "The caliber here is just up there ... every player is good. The coaches expect a lot out of you, but I have no idea what they're thinking. I do know I can definitely do a lot better." Gonzalez played all 30 of the Los Angeles Galaxy's games last season. He hopes to see action when the USA faces Honduras in a friendly at the Home Depot Center on Saturday. He is one of nine defenders in camp.

"He showed in his first season he was able to grow on the job and he did a good job getting through that first season," Bradley said. "Oftentimes you'll see young players where they'll start well, but the season is long and they'll start to have dips. He handled his first season well. Now, hopefully he can continue to kind of move himself forward. Our job is to challenge him, raise the bar a little bit and we'll see."

 

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