Dom Dwyer in Stars and Stripes?
Sporting Kansas City's high-scoring English forward is intrigued by the idea, even though he's still three years away from eligibility for US citizenship.
“Every player wants to play on the international stage,” Dwyer told MLSsoccer.com by phone on Tuesday from Columbus, where Sporting take a four-match unbeaten streak into Wednesday's match against the Crew (7:30 pm ET, MLS Live). “I think if I were to get called in the future and have an opportunity, I think that's something every player would love to do and dream of.”
That's not to say Dwyer has turned his back on the idea of representing England at the international level, though.
“Obviously, the dream was always to play for England,” he said. “I never thought I'd have an opportunity to play for anyone else.”
But with the numbers Dwyer is putting up in MLS this year – 14 goals in 18 matches, after setting USL PRO single-season and title-match scoring records last year during loan stints with Orlando City SC – the “Dwyer for USMNT” crowd is starting to grow.
Sporting president Robb Heineman advanced the idea with a pair of tweets on Monday, two days after Dwyer's brace in a 2-1 away victory over Montreal gave him 14 goals on the season, in just 18 matches:
Dwyer has been in the United States since 2009 and has had his green card since 2012, his rookie season with Sporting.
“If the offer ever came to me, I think it would be a difficult one to say no to,” he said. “I'm from England, born and raised there, but I've been in the US for quite a few years and have a lot of love for this country and enjoy being here.
"But I don't know where I'll be in 2017. You don't know where you'll be tomorrow. So you have to just kind of take it as it comes, and if the opportunity comes – I'm not sure if [England manager] Roy Hodgson's going to be calling me any time soon,” he joked. "So we'll just have to wait and see.”
In the shorter term, Dwyer seems destined not only to break but to smash Preki's club record of 18 goals in a season, set in 1996 – the inaugural for the club (then known as the Wiz) and the league.
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“We have a really great team, and we're going to create chances,” said Dwyer, who will move even with Eddie Johnson in second place on the team list with his next league goal. “If I can stay healthy, then I think it can be a fun year.”
Regardless of his own numbers, Dwyer said, the important thing is for the defending MLS Cup champs to continue their success as a group.
“I just want to be consistent and play well,” he said, “and we want to keep getting three points and winning games. If the chances come my way, I have to try to put them away and help us win games. That's the main thing here.”
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com.
