Newcastle defender DeAndre Yedlin could return from international duty with more weight of expectation on his shoulders.
DeAndre Yedlin remains a key man for the United States as they go through a transitional period after missing out on World Cup qualification.
The Newcastle United defender went to the last tournament as an impact sub and impressed in qualifying, but USA fell short and the squad will stay at home this summer.
While a number of stars have been cast aside following this failure, Newcastle’s Yedlin remains as popular as ever.
Indeed, in the squad named for a friendly clash with Paraguay, the former Seattle Sounders man is the most experienced player in terms of caps (49) at the age of just 24.
And there is every chance Yedlin could be handed the captain’s armband for that game, too, having been identified as a leader in the group.
And this can all benefit Newcastle, who have been critiqued this season for the lack of top-level experience in their ranks.
The US may not be going to the World Cup, but Yedlin would certainly learn a lot from taking a leading role with a nation that still holds some weight in the international game. Already a decent player and a good communicator, Yedlin could grow like team-mate Jamaal Lascelles in a leadership role.
That will be Newcastle’s hope – that Rafa Benitez’s back-line settles into a solid Premier League unit, boasting youth, talent and experience.
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