FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Preseason camp is in full swing for the New England Revolution, now two weeks into their preparations for the 2020 campaign and four weeks away from their season opener against the Montreal Impact.
Just one player has yet to join the Revs at their new training center in Foxborough: goalkeeper Matt Turner, who has been in camp with the U.S. National Team since January 5.
Turner and the rest of the USMNT were initially slated to train in Doha, Qatar, but a late change moved the camp to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where Gregg Berhalter worked out his young squad for three weeks before shifting their base to Los Angeles. That’s where the U.S. will close camp on Saturday afternoon (February 1) with a friendly against Concacaf rival Costa Rica (3:55 p.m. ET, ESPNews, UniMas, TUDN).
Initially one of four MLS goalkeepers in camp – along with Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), and JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes) – Turner is one of three GKs on the roster for Saturday’s game, joining Johnson and Hamid.
Turner, in his second camp with the USMNT after earning his first call-up for the Concacaf Nations League matches against Canada and Cuba this past November, will be hoping to make his first international appearance on Saturday. But regardless of whether Turner sees the field or not, his club coach Bruce Arena said the past month will serve as valuable experience for the 25-year-old.
“Hopefully it’s good,” Arena said. “I haven’t seen him since the end of last season, but it’ll be a good experience for him, and I know he’ll be excited to come back here in early February and join us for camp in California.”
After wrapping up his month-long stay with the USMNT on Saturday afternoon Turner will return to Foxborough and join the Revs’ preseason camp early next week, and shortly thereafter he’ll return to LA with the Revs as they begin a two-week west coast trip that will feature five preseason matches.
Joining fellow goalkeepers Brad Knighton, Jeff Caldwell, and Keegan Meyer (unsigned SuperDraft pick), Turner will be looking to build upon a 2019 season in which he garnered MLS Goalkeeper of the Year buzz after shining throughout the Revs’ second-half push to the playoffs.
