10 USA Youngsters Set to Break out in 2015
The next 12 months are crucial for the United States men's national team to develop and identify stars throughout their talent pool.
With the CONCACAF Gold Cup presumably being used for younger players in 2015, the spotlight will be focused on some of the inexperienced players based in the United States and Europe.
A few of the players under the age of 25 on this list have already broken on to the international scene, but they must have a strong 2015 campaign at the club level to keep their place with the Yanks.
Here's a look at 10 players under the age of 25 who are poised for breakout seasons in 2015.
Amobi Okugo
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When the 2015 Major League Soccer season begins in March, Orlando City will enter the league alongside New York City FC.
One of the young Americans poised to thrive in his first season with the Lions is midfielder Amobi Okugo.
The UCLA product spent the last five seasons in Philadelphia, but he was misused as a center-back during the last two seasons under John Hackworth and Jim Curtin.
Now that he has a chance to succeed at his preferred defensive midfield position, Okugo could finally jump on to Jurgen Klinsmann's radar. If he plays well during the first three months of the season, he might even be on the verge of a call-up for the Gold Cup.
Luis Gil
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Luis Gil also suffered a bit of a development setback in 2014, as he was displaced from the Real Salt Lake starting lineup by the in-form Luke Mulholland.
The 20-year-old should be a focal point of the United States Olympic squad in 2016, but if he wants to keep on that track, he needs to pick up his play in 2015.
In 26 matches this season for RSL, the creative playmaker scored twice and assisted on two other goals, which marked a regression from his breakout 2013 campaign in which he scored five times.
Now that Gil knows what he has to do to earn his starting position in the RSL midfield back, expect him to burst back on to the scene over the next 12 months.
Mix Diskerud
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Wherever he plays in 2015, Mix Diskerud needs to prove he can play at a higher level than Rosenborg.
The 24-year-old has plenty of interested suitors, but he has to make sure his new club will help continue his development into one of the best American midfielders.
We have witnessed what Diskerud can do in the United States midfield in the months after the World Cup. But for him to earn consistent call-ups to the national team, he must perform well at the club level.
Whether it be in MLS, Liga MX or in Europe, a ton of eyes will be fixated on what Diskerud does in 2015. Based off what we have seen lately at the international level, he could be in for his best club season to date.
Brek Shea
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One of the players who could line up next to Diskerud over the next few years in the United States midfield is Brek Shea.
Believe it or not, the new Orlando City player is only 24. With a bright future still ahead of him, Shea has a chance to become one of the stars of MLS once again.
It may take Shea some time to get back to game form, as he barely played while at Stoke City over the last two seasons.
If he can shake off the rust, Shea may have the opportunity to score his second consecutive game-winning goal at the Gold Cup.
Zack Steffen
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If there is one goalkeeping prospect worth keeping an eye on in 2015, it is Zack Steffen.
The University of Maryland product recently inked a deal with Freiburg in the Bundesliga, and he could turn into the next great American netminder.
Steffen may not receive a ton of attention right away, but if he impresses at Freiburg just like he did in college, he could be an outside candidate for the 2018 World Cup roster.
For now, the goal for Steffen is to get adjusted to Europe and focus on remaining the top 'keeper in the youth ranks. If that remains the same, he could be a major player during the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Shane O'Neill
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There won't be many positives to come out of the Colorado Rapids camp in 2015, but one of them could be the play of center-back Shane O'Neill.
In December, the 21-year-old spent time on trial at Sheffield Wednesday and impressed a few folks overseas, per Brian Sciaretta of the New York Times.
O'Neill did play in 21 matches in 2014, but he did not receive a ton of attention because of the brutal performances put in by the rest of the back line.
Colorado is not expected to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference next season, but it could draw a few eyes from elsewhere if O'Neill continues to improve at center-back.
Emerson Hyndman
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At just 18 years old, Emerson Hyndman has already broken into the starting lineup at Fulham in the Championship.
Hyndman has logged 830 minutes in the English second flight this season, which is more time than some established United States internationals based in Europe can boast.
The grandson of former FC Dallas boss Schellas Hyndman did catch the eye of Jurgen Klinsmann in the fall, as he earned his international debut as a substitute against the Czech Republic.
We may not hear much about Hyndman at the international level due to the positional logjam at defensive midfield, but he could move up the depth chart with a strong second half of the season at Craven Cottage.
Rubio Rubin
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Another player who earned his first call-up to the United States in the final months of 2014 was Rubio Rubin.
The 18-year-old forward turned a few heads in training in order to earn a start against Colombia at Craven Cottage on October 10.
In his stint on the pitch against the dangerous South American side, Rubin impressed many with his attacking instincts in the final third.
At Utrecht in the Eredivisie, Rubin has started 12 league games and contributed two goals and five assists. If he can increase his production over the next six months, he could be leading the line at the Gold Cup.
Harry Shipp
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During the first half of his rookie season in MLS, Harry Shipp was the only candidate to win the Rookie of the Year award.
Unfortunately the Notre Dame product cooled off drastically during the second half, but he did show some signs of what type of player he could be in the future.
With the Chicago Fire loading up on attack-minded signings this offseason, Shipp should see an increase in production during his sophomore season as a professional.
If he is able to remain in form over the next 12 months, he could find himself on the United States depth chart at a weak wing position.
Tommy Thompson
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If you were able to catch a glimpse of Tommy Thompson with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2014, you were able to see how much potential he has.
The creative midfielder was slotted into an attacking midfield position over the late stages of the summer, and he was able to impress enough to earn eight starts.
Thompson could play a key role in the rebuilding of the San Jose franchise in 2015 under new boss Dominic Kinnear. It also doesn't hurt that the 19-year-old has Chris Wondolowski to work with in attack.
The key for Thompson will be to string together a long span of strong performances since he shined in a brief stretch of games in 2014.
If he is able to do that, Thompson should be one of the key components of the Olympic roster in 2016.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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