Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner has been backed to star for the United States at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar by his former Chicago Fire boss.
Turner is set to start for the USMNT at the World Cup, which begins on Sunday November 20. He will play a key role for manager Gregg Berhalter’s side as they aim to escape Group B alongside England, Iran and Wales.
The 28-year-old has worked hard to claim the number one jersey and is the most experienced goalkeeper in the squad, with 20 caps for the national team under his belt. English fans will be interested in Turner’s performance given he is yet to make his Premier League debut for the table-topping Gunners.
Arsenal fans are yet to see too much of Turner following his summer move to the Emirates, although he has featured four times in the Europa League. He has impressed in those games though, making a number of smart saves and conceding just once.
In fact, after Turner's impressive display against Bodo/Glimt, Mikel Arteta branded him "phenomenal" in a glowing review of the stand-in's performance.
USMNT are in a difficult group and Turner could be frequently called upon if they are to stand a chance of advancing. MLS figures were asked to predict the player in the squad who could make the difference in Qatar, and Fire manager Ezra Hendrickson believes it will be Turner.
“Goalkeeping has always been a strong point for the US team when it comes to these tournaments,” Hendrickson told MLS Soccer. “It’s no different this year.
“Matt has shown his shot-stopping ability to be very, very good. That’s going to be incredibly useful for this current squad.”
Hendrickson believes Turner is an excellent shot-stopper ahead of him representing his country at the World Cup. He could also use the tournament as an opportunity to prove a point to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
If Turner impresses in Group B and against England in particular, he may feature more prominently in the second half of the season as Arsenal aim to continue their fine form. The USMNT take on Wales in their opening game on Monday.
