CARSON, Calif. – Sebastian Lletget has been a revelation for the LA Galaxy but will his red hot club form lead to a call-up to the U.S. National Team?
This season, Lletget is currently second on the Galaxy scoring charts with eight goals while also chipping in with two assists in just 13 games for the club since joining in May from West Ham United.
Lletget was one of the most dangerous players on the field last Sunday as he notched a goal and an assist in the Galaxy’s 5-1 demolition of New York City FC.
Despite representing the Stars and Stripes extensively at various youth national team levels, Lletget has never been called up by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to the full senior national team. Will his scintillating form at club level be enough to earn Lletget a call-up for the upcoming international break?
“I’m confident right now. I think that I’m going into every game that I’m going to affect the game in some sort of way,” said Lletget. “It’s a common question that I get as of late [about the U.S. national team]. I’m just trying to do my job for the LA Galaxy and see if [a call-up] happens.”
Lletget’s current form certainly merits consideration when stacked up against a pair of other national team hopefuls from MLS like Columbus Crew SC winger Ethan Finlay and New York Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella. Of all three players, Finlay leads the way with eight goals and 13 assists in 2015, which tops Lletget’s total and Grella’s tally of five goals and six assists.
However, take a look at the numbers averaged per game, and Lletget far outpaces his competitors. Currently Lletget’s goal per game number sits at .62, which tops Finlay (.30) and Grella (.22). Lletget’s mark even beats out Galaxy teammate and U.S. National Team mainstay Gyasi Zardes, who has scored six goals in 22 games for a goal per game mark of .27.
With Lletget blossoming into one of the Galaxy’s most consistent performers, his teammates have heaped praise on the California-born winger.
“He’s a good player. I was very surprised that West Ham let him go,” said Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard. “He’s certainly come here with a point to prove and week in and week out he is growing and learning the game.”
While the numbers certainly back up Lletget’s case for a USMNT spot, Galaxy head coach and former national team boss Bruce Arena says that the final decision is ultimately up to Klinsmann.
“I used to be the national team coach and they don’t need anyone’s recommendations. That is their job, and I’m sure he gets plenty of recommendations. He’s still young and he’s growing and we need to give it a little bit of time, but those are decisions they are going to make.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com