ASN: On the rise with Southend United, Kelman eyes high purpose with U.S. U-20’s

Charlie Kelman is now enjoying first group soccer for Southend United. After scoring a surprise purpose in January, {the teenager} appears set to tackle extra membership obligations – which he hopes results in his high purpose in the meanwhile: incomes a spot on the U.S. U-20 World Cup roster.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
February 27, 2019
2:00 PM

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DURING HIS DAYS on the youth stage, Charlie Kelman may rating objectives at a staggering fee. Then inside minutes of his skilled debut for Southend United, he scored a surprise purpose from inside his personal half. However the English-born American needs to proceed his momentum and has formidable objectives within the months forward.

Kelman, 17, was a born purpose scorer. Through the 2017/18 season for the youth group of third-tier, League One’s Southend United, he scored 61 objectives (together with 22 this yr in restricted youth motion). Since January, he’s been promoted to the primary group.

“It’s been quite surreal,” Kelman informed ASN from England about his transition to the primary group. “The standard goes up and it’s intense. It’s very different playing in front of crowds and playing for results instead of trying to develop. When I stepped on the pitch for my debut, I didn’t know what to expect. But after having a few touches, the crowd was getting behind me and it came down to me showing the crowd what I could do. Obviously, I scored the goal.”

That purpose, after all, remains to be being talked about. It was not too long ago named League One’s purpose of the month and it got here on January twelfth.

— Sky Sports activities Soccer (@SkyFootball) February 15, 2019

Kelman was subbed when Southend was trailing Plymouth Argyle 3-1. Kelman scored his superb purpose in stoppage time to carry his membership inside one, however the equalizer by no means got here. Regardless of the loss, the purpose was the story from the sport.

“It quite a negative atmosphere but [my coach] gave me the call to go in,” Kelman recalled. “The keeper was always off his line. I was standing there with Simon Cox and I told him the next time I get the ball, I am going to have a shot. The ball just fell to me and as soon as I hit it, I knew it was in. It was kind of just an instinct. I didn’t really think about it, I just hit it. Next thing, I look up and the ball is in the back of the net.”

Within the following weeks, Kelman has been an everyday for Southend off the bench, has performed nicely, and even signed a long-term skilled contract with the membership.  Subsequent up might be a beginning position as ahead Stephen Humphrys is out with a damaged nostril and concussion – and Kelman might be subsequent in line. This Saturday, the group will host second place Barnsley on nationwide tv.

Switch rumors have additionally surfaced for Kelman, who is definitely outperforming lots of the English youth internationals who had been a part of the groups that gained each the U-17 and U-20 World Cups in 2017. Kelman additionally turned the primary 2001-born participant to attain knowledgeable purpose in England.

???? | West Ham are among the many groups being linked with a transfer to signal Southend teen Charlie Kelman. #WHUFC https://t.co/heEblIcRvC pic.twitter.com/EQhu2D0qdA

— Learn West Ham (@ReadWestHam) October 29, 2018

Born in Basildon, England, he’s the son of a Scottish-born father and an English mom. His father, nevertheless, moved to america, turned a U.S. citizen and lived there lengthy sufficient to go citizenship onto Charlie. As a baby, the youthful Kelman lived along with his father in Dallas from the ages of 4 by means of 10 and once more for a yr when he was 14.

When Kelman was residing in america, his reference to the nation grew even when his soccer relationship wasn’t all the time easy. When he was very younger, he performed for FC Dallas after which he performed once more for the group when he got here again as a teen.

“I got told by one of the coaches that I wasn’t good enough for the academy,” Kelman defined. “So I played for their Premier team and I think I scored 85 goals by Thanksgiving. I actually played against the Dallas academy team in my last game before going back to the UK and scored four goals in the Bobby Rhine Memorial Tournament Final while playing as a guest for Sporting United.   Academy manager Luchi Gonzalez called my Dad in after I left to congratulate him on my performance and to say that the door would always be open for me to return to the FC Dallas family at any time in the future, so I was naturally very pleased to see him recently named as the FC Dallas head coach.”

“I used to watch FC Dallas a lot,” he added. “For me, I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to play in MLS. It would be a dream for me to come over there and do that. I couldn’t tell you at what point in my career. It would be a great experience.”

But Kelman’s international future is also up in the air at the moment. Last year, Kelman made his international debut when he was called up by the U.S. U-18 team after head coach Omid Namazi became aware of Kelman after Southend United reached out to him.

“I simply discovered a couple of child, Charlie Kelman, at Southend United who performs heart ahead.” Namazi said in early 2018. “I used to be contacted by his membership telling me that Charlie had an American passport and possibly deserved to be seen. I requested to see a video and I’ve seen them now. He is a purpose scorer. He is scored one thing like 27 objectives in his league. It isn’t the best league however when you’re scoring 27 objectives, there’s something there.”

In June, Kelman was called up for a U.S. U-18 camp. At the time he was taking exams and his mom was there afterward to inform him he received his first international call-up.

“It was out of the blue,” Kelman said of learning of the call-up. “To be honest, it was all sort of surreal. It’s something I dreamed of since I was a kid. A lot of the FC Dallas players used to be called up, like Thomas Roberts and a few others. Everyone always says that the United States is playing catch-up in football, but the camp when I went out there, the facilities, the structure – it seems as if they’re not. It seems like they are becoming such a powerhouse. A lot of the young ones are coming over to Europe and really taking it by storm: Weston Mckennie, Timothy Weah, Josh Sargent, Christian Pulisic.”

“I haven’t heard from anyone with the U.S. since my [U-18] call-up in June,” he added. “It’s quite gutting, really. But I am thankful to everyone who called me up. Omid Namazi put me on the scene. But at the moment, I can play for England and Scotland as well. I’ve been contacted by both of those countries and they’ve come down to watch a few of my games. It’s kind of who makes the first move, really.”

U.S. U-20 head coach Tab Ramos acknowledges that he has kept track of Kelman and pointed out how he saw his big goal in January.

“Of course, I did see it. I think that was an amazing goal – not just the fact he scored the goal but that he thought about it at the time,” Ramos said. “That is quick thinking. Not everybody is thinking that the keeper might be out. I really like that. Also, Charlie is a 2001 so he is also a potential next-cycle U-20 player. He is certainly in the picture as well.”

When asked about the U-20 World Cup, Kelman admits that it is perhaps his biggest goal at the moment even though he is yet to play at that age level for the United States. As a striker, Kelman’s competition on the U.S. U-20 team is tough but possible.

New England’s Justin Rennicks and Hannover’s Sebastian Soto were the main options the team’s run to the CONCACAF title with Rennicks starting in the win over Mexico in the final. FC Dallas forward Jesus Ferreira played last month in camp although is still awaiting his U.S. Citizenship. Then you also have potential, albeit unlikely, options of Tim Weah and Josh Sargent who are with the full national team right now.

While he is eligible for the 2021 U-20 team, his sole focus is on the current cycle. With the progress he’s shown in recent months, he is booming with confidence.

“The biggest goal for me is the U-20 World Cup,” Kelman mentioned of his present objectives. “It would be a huge honor. Tab Ramos keeps track of players and my job is to prove why I should be on the plane. I am quite young but I am the only American striker playing in the top four leagues in England. I am kind of trying to set a statement that I might be young but if you’re good enough, your old enough.”

“I don’t know, really,” he added on the 2021 U-20 cycle. “English football moves so quickly. In the next couple of years, you never know where you could be. I could be playing first team, or with the full national team. All I know is I am pushing and pushing because I want to play in May. I’ll do anything I can to be involved.”