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Steel’s Jones Earns first Call-Up to U.S. U20s

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 09/30/16, 5:28PM EDT

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USL 20 Under 20 honoree leads eight players with USL ties named for Four Nations tournament


Photo courtesy New York Red Bulls II

CHICAGO – Bethlehem Steel FC midfielder and USL 20 Under 20 selection Derrick Jones has earned his first call-up to the U.S. U20 National Team, one of eight players with USL ties named in Tab Ramos’ squad for the Four Nations Tournament that kicks off in England on October 2.

Jones is joined in the squad by fellow Steel standout Auston Trusty, while USL 20 Under 20 No. 1 selection Victor Mansaray of Seattle Sounders FC 2, Charleston Battery loanee Jeremy Ebobisse and LA Galaxy II defender Hugo Arellano also feature in the 22-player squad that sees the U.S. face Germany, the Netherlands and hosts England in the round-robin tournament.

Jones was the first signing in Bethlehem history, and finished tied for the team-lead with five goals, and sat third on the team with 2,178 minutes of action in 26 appearances. Named the No. 10 player in the USL 20 Under 20 series this summer, Jones signed as a Homegrown Player with the Philadelphia Union on July 27.

Mansaray had a strong second season in the USL for S2, as the Sounders’ Homegrown signing recorded five goals and two assists in 19 appearances for the club. Mansaray helped the U.S. U20s claim the NTC Invitational earlier this summer at StubHub Center, and will look to bolster his credentials for inclusion in the squad that will compete at CONCACAF U20 Championship in Costa Rica next February.

Trusty had a positive first professional season with the Steel, as the center back made 19 appearances for the club and finished sixth on the team with 1,710 minutes of action. The 18-year-old joined Jones in signing with the Union as a Homegrown Player on August 10.

Ebobisse joined the Battery on loan after signing with Major League Soccer in August. In five late-season appearances, the former Duke standout recorded his first professional goal and assist. Arellano, meanwhile, became the latest player to sign with the Galaxy II from the Galaxy’s Academy this year. The former U.S. U17 captain made eight appearances for Los Dos this season as the side finished with the No. 5 seed in the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs.

Other players with USL ties in the squad include current Real Monarchs SLC defender Danny Acosta and former Monarchs forward Sebastian Saucedo, and Orlando City SC defender Tommy Redding, who made 17 appearances for the Lions in the USL in 2014 prior to the club’s move to Major League Soccer.

The U.S. U20s will open the tournament against Germany on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. ET, before contests against the Netherlands on Oct. 7 and England on Oct. 10 to close out the tournament.

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