Caleb Porter: Darlington Nagbe will Play Major Role in USMNT Qualifiers

Jan 29, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; United States midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) is defended by Serbia midfielder Nikola Cirkovic (13) during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; United States midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) is defended by Serbia midfielder Nikola Cirkovic (13) during the second half at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter says that Portland midfielder Darlington Nagbe will be playing a huge role for the USMNT as they look to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Later today the US Men’s National Team will be taking on Honduras in an effort to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. One player looking to help them do that is 26-year-old Portland Timber Darlington Nagbe.

Nagbe has been a mainstay with the Portland Timbers over the past few years, scoring 24 goals in 190 appearances for the side after being drafted with the second overall pick of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. His ability over the years has forced himself into the USMNT, being named to the roster for the first time in November of 2015. Now, just over a year later, Nagbe has become an important part of this national team side.

Portland’s head coach Caleb Porter, who also coached Nagbe when he played collegiately at Akron, told ESPN FC how important Darlington Nagbe is for this national team:

"More from MLS MultiplexJavier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine PlayersOrlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa AmericaDe Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter MiamiMessi’s Magnetic Impact in the United StatesI know him better than anybody because I’ve had him so long. 14-years-old I saw this kid in Cleveland, Ohio. I went to the field and called the U-17 National Team Coach from the field and said ‘This is one of the best youth players that I have ever seen.’ I’ll never forget that day I saw him.I knew back then this kid was something special, world class technique, world class balance and athleticism.The question with Darlington has always been mentality. He’s a confident kid but you always want a little bit more edge. He quietly is an intense guy, he quietly cares and wants to win and has a lot of pride. With the right coach, like Bruce Arena, he will show that and I think he is going to play a major role in these qualifiers coming up and in the Gold Cup. I think he has the ability to score goals from that left side, he has the ability to keep possession. He is a modern winger, a guy that can play inside or outside, help you keep possession, he is great on counter attacks, he’s honest defensively and he’s a smart player. He is a player that will bring a lot to the game."

Next: USMNT: Predicting the Starting Line-up against Honduras

You can watch Nagbe and the rest of the USMNT take on Honduras in a must win match for World Cup Qualifying. If the US don’t take all three points from this match, they could quickly face dangerously low odds for qualification for 2018.