If there’s one player fans should be keeping an eye on when Sacramento Republic FC takes on the Liverpool FC U21s over a pair of games in Sacramento and Reno in the upcoming week, it’s young American standout Brooks Lennon.

Part of the traveling party set to take the field at Bonney Field on Saturday night, and Greater Nevada Field this Wednesday, the U.S. U20 international is looking forward to the chance to play in his home country again after moving to the historic English club last summer.

“It feels great to be back home and be in the States, especially with Liverpool,” Lennon said on Friday evening. “It’s just kind of a coincidence that we got to come here and play Sacramento. I’m really looking forward to the game tomorrow night, and happy to be back in the States.”

As with many players his age, Lennon has a big year coming up on the international scene, with the FIFA U20 World Cup set to kick off a year from now in South Korea. A native of Arizona, Lennon has spent the past season getting acclimatized to his new surroundings in northwest England, and believes he is learning a lot that he can carry with him to the U.S. National Team program.

“It’s been a great experience for me to move over to England and play for Liverpool,” Lennon said. “It’s such a historic club, and it’s been kind of a whirlwind year for me. I’ve scored a couple of goals for the Under-21s team, and it’s just been a great year for me, and I’m looking forward to next year and reaching my goals.”

While Liverpool has helped Lennon raise his game to a new level, he gives credit to the time he spent with the Real Salt Lake Academy in Arizona for putting him in a position to make the jump to Europe as an 18-year old.

It was only three years ago that Lennon was part of the RSL-AZ Academy side that claimed the USSF Development Academy U16 Championship in Houston, as he had a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win against Solar Chelsea SC. The coach for that side was Freddy Juarez, now the head coach for Real Monarchs SLC in the USL, while three of his teammates on that team – Justen Glad, Sebastian Saucedo and Fito Ovalle – spent time with the Monarchs a season ago as they progressed in the professional ranks.

“Real Salt Lake, the Academy, it’s a great program,” Lennon said. “Those boys down there, they train very hard, and it’s a great environment down there soccer-wise. It made the transition to Liverpool a little bit easier, and I’m very grateful to them and thankful to them.”

While other U20 teammates like Bethlehem Steel FC’s Auston Trusty, Seattle Sounders FC 2’s Victor Mansaray and OKC Energy FC’s Coy Craft are currently competing in the USL, Lennon is enjoying what England has to offer as he works toward being a key component in Tab Ramos’ squad next year.

“The physicality of the game in England is a step up from the States,” Lennon said. “I’ve learned a lot being there this year. The speed of play is so much quicker there, and I’m taking that on board and running with it. I’m looking to learn more each and every game and practice, and hopefully that will propel me.”

Over the course of his next few days back home, Lennon’s chance to shine could give fans a glimpse into the future for American soccer.