FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – If Lee Nguyen is trying to show U.S. National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann what he’s missing by leaving him off the final roster for Copa America Centenario, then it has to be said that he’s doing a pretty good job.

Nguyen has registered three goals and five assists in his last five games with the New England Revolution, including one goal and one assist in each of the past three games. He leads the Revs in both categories, Kei Kamara’s five goals scored with Columbus Crew SC notwithstanding.

It’s been a remarkable reaction from Nguyen, who was understandably disappointed not to make the cut for the USMNT’s Copa squad after being named to the initial 40-man roster.

“It’s always disappointing,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “We had a long conversation with him about not being selected and how he can use this for the positive. I think he’s a real player with motivation, and when he plays well, we play well.

“I’m excited he didn’t take it the wrong way. He took the news and said, ‘alright, I’m going to go for it.’”

If Nguyen has been motivated by the national team snub in recent weeks, he’s also found inspiration in wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in his Revolution career.

The 29-year-old first took on captain’s duties against the Chicago Fire when both Jose Goncalves and Chris Tierney were sidelined by injury, but Nguyen has maintained the armband even as that veteran duo has returned to the lineup.

Heaps said it’s an honor that Nguyen has earned, and although he’s not the loudest player on the field or in the locker room, that doesn’t mean that he’s not vocal.

“I think that’s just for what he does on the field for our guys,” Heaps said of Nguyen serving as captain. “He’s not a big, loud, go get ‘em, rah rah guy, but he’s having the individual conversations and he’s having real dialogue with players on an individual level.

“I really like seeing that and his growth overall.”