DeAndre Yedlin Focused On Immediate Goals Instead Of Tottenham Transfer

BOSTON — You can’t blame DeAndre Yedlin for living in the present. Doing otherwise might cause opportunity to bypass Yedlin, and he specializes in catching and making the most of his chances.

Yedlin, 21, has shot to international fame in 2014. His breakout performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup earned him worldwide plaudits and a £2.4 million ($4 million) transfer from Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Yedlin won’t join Tottenham until next year (he’s technically on loan in Seattle until July 2015), so his focus is fixed on immediate challenges: Seattle’s pursuit of domestic glory and his own case for prominence on the U.S. men’s national team.

Yedlin made that clear Tuesday when asked how he was preparing to play abroad.

“Right now, I’m just trying to focus on the MLS season — hopefully to win the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup,” Yedlin said before the United States’ practice session at Harvard University.

Yedlin added he doesn’t have regular contact with Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The national team is entering a new cycle, and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is giving young players a chance to establish themselves in the program.

Despite having a World Cup on his resume, Yedlin still is inexperienced at the international level. Yedlin is keen to make his first start for the senior national team — likely on Friday against Ecuador — and add to the seven international appearances he has made so far in his career.

“It’s an honor to be called into any camp,” Yedlin said. “I’m looking forward to getting back and playing with all the guys. It’s been a lot of fun.

“That’s one of my next goals. Anytime I have a chance to play for the national team — whether it’s as a starter or getting on the field — it’s amazing, but I’m definitely looking forward to starting.

While Yedlin is enjoying the moment, he briefly relented and reflected on his rapid progression — when reporters pressed him to do so. Yedlin said last summer’s experience in Brazil taught him that he can play well at the highest level of the sport.

“I think I grew a lot, in a sense that now I know I can do it,” Yedlin said. “It gave me a big amount of confidence. Hopefully I can that into the rest of the season and my next step with Tottenham.”

Yedlin has plenty of time to worry about living and playing in England. For now, it’s all about winning trophies with his hometown club and cementing a place on the national team.

Tottenham signs Yedlin after breakout 2014 World Cup >>

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