Miles Robinson and Andrew Carleton are back with Atlanta United after playing for their respective U.S. youth national teams and are ready for Saturday’s game at Columbus.
Robinson, a 22-year-old centerback, started and played 75 minutes for the U.S. Under-23 team that drew Netherlands 0-0 in Spain, and he came on as halftime sub in a 2-0 loss to Egypt in the first game.
“It was a good trip,” Robinson said. “It was great to have teammates your age.”
Carleton, an 18-year-old midfielder, scored a goal in a 2-1 win for the U.S. Under 20s against Japan in Spain and just missed scoring on a free kick in a 2-2 draw with France in the first game.
“I feel I did pretty well and put myself in a spot to hopefully earn a place on the (World Cup) team in Poland in May,” Carleton said.
The players were called into camp in different ways – Robinson by email and Carleton in a phone call he made to U20 manager Tab Ramos to ask how he can prepare for the World Cup -- and are having different experiences with Atlanta United this season. Robinson arguably has been the team’s best player through seven games, while Carleton has twice come off the bench with the goal of trying to provide a spark.
Carleton said the game minutes he received in Spain were valuable for two reasons. First, he said he thinks that he plays his best for Atlanta United after spells with the youth national teams because he is getting to play. He could receive more minutes Saturday at Columbus because of the injury suffered by Pity Martinez while he was with the Argentine national team. Second, Carleton said that Ramos said that it’s important for those players who hope to make the U20 World Cup team to play minutes either for their MLS club or USL club so that they are match-fit when the tournament starts in late May. It will end June 16.
Carleton said he doesn’t worry about his minutes. He has played 27 minutes this season after logging 161 last season and four in 2017 with Atlanta United.
“I’m more focused on how I should do with the minutes I do get,” he said.
Robinson said he learned more about leadership that he can apply with Atlanta United. He also said a change of scenery was good for him mentally. The team played seven games in 24 days from Feb. 21-March 17, on top of a preseason that included almost two weeks in California. Robinson said his goal with the national team is to earn another call-up to the U23s for Olympic qualifying, which will start next year.
Now, both players are turning their attention to helping Atlanta United try to defend its MLS Cup.
“We haven’t started great in MLS this season,” Carleton said. “Going forward, now we have a week or two off and are able to regroup. …Hopefully we will see a bit of difference going into Columbus.”
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