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Jurgen Klinsmann highlights the conversation he had with David Moyes about Lynden Gooch

Sunderland's Lynden Gooch (Reuters)
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The USA boss handed the midfielder his first cap for his country this season.

USA national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been discussing the talent of Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch this week.

The USMNT coach was speaking to Chron when he discussed the conversation he had with Sunderland boss David Moyes about the midfield operator – with the Black Cats manager admitting he was struggling not to start the player:

“I called David Moyes: ‘What is it about the kid?’ ‘Oh my gosh, Jurgen, this kid is hungry. I don’t even know how to keep him on the bench.’”

Sunderland's Lynden GoochSunderland’s Lynden Gooch

Gooch, who has made his international debut for the USA this season, has had something of a breakthrough year at the Stadium of Light this season.

The 20-year-old, who has been with Sunderland since 2012, has been used regularly by Moyes this season.

U.S. national soccer team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann smiles during a conference in Havana, CubaU.S. national soccer team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann smiles during a conference in Havana, Cuba

He has featured 11 times for Sunderland this season and started the campaign in the Sunderland starting XI. However, he has not started a league game for Sunderland since the 3-0 home thrashing against Everton in mid-September.

Gooch will need to continue his improvement if he is to work his way back into the first-team plans of his coach Moyes.

The Sunderland boss is clearly a big fan of the 20-year-old, but the performances on the pitch will have to be better.