MLS

US Men's National Team January Camp: Jeremy Ebobisse, Portland Timbers

US Men's National Team January Camp: Jeremy Ebobisse, Portland Timbers

FloFC takes a look at a few USMNT players in the January camp and their chances on making the squad. First up is Portland's Jeremy Ebobisse.

Jan 20, 2019 by Harrison Hamm
US Men's National Team January Camp: Jeremy Ebobisse, Portland Timbers

Gregg Berhalter’s first USMNT camp will culminate in games against Costa Rica and Panama at the end of January and beginning of February. Berhalter’s initial group of 27 MLS players are in Chula Vista, California, to prove their worthiness as national team contributors. 

The 12 uncapped players who earned an invite are largely young MLS talents with hopes of growing into elite players. This camp is especially important for that group. 

In a series of articles, we're going to take a look at a few players and how their chances look. First up: Let's go to the Pacific Northwest.

Jeremy Ebobisse | Portland Timbers

Ebobisse could be the perfect forward to throw into Berhalter’s system, which is notorious for its ability to give strikers quality scoring chances. Columbus’ last three starting forwards (Kei Kamara, Ola Kamara, and Gyasi Zardes) each put up career-high scoring numbers under Berhalter. Ebobisse has some Ola Kamara in him.

The former fourth-overall SuperDraft pick is an intelligent off-ball mover. He puts himself in the right positions by understanding where he should be at all times and how to free his teammates with clever movement. These qualities elevated Ebobisse above Fanendo Adi and Samuel Armenteros on the Timbers’ depth chart and helped carry Portland to the MLS Cup final.

The future of the USA’s No. 9 position looks to be Josh Sargent. Jozy Altidore is also still 29. But in this camp, Ebobisse has an opportunity to beat out Zardes and Christian Ramirez — two flawed, less balanced players.


Harrison Hamm is a sportswriter who covers American soccer and MLS for FloFC. He also covers sports for FanSided and The Comeback, and has freelanced for the Washington Post.