Matt Turner has been advised what he might need to do to help become a regular in Europe, with the USMNT goalkeeper told "Arsenal was a hard push".
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Keeper left MLS in a bid to crack EuropeToiled at Arsenal, Forest & PalaceBackwards step might've served him betterFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 30-year-old shot-stopper bid farewell to his native America in the summer of 2022 when severing ties with MLS side the New England Revolution. He was chasing a dream at that stage, with an opportunity to link up with Premier League heavyweights at Emirates Stadium proving too good to turn down.
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Turner made just seven appearances for Arsenal before heading to Nottingham Forest, where he took in 20 outings last term but tumbled down the pecking order after making several costly errors. He is now on loan at Crystal Palace, but has figured in only one Carabao Cup fixture as his career threatens to grind to a halt.
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While Turner’s ambition in heading for England is to be applauded, a countryman that once did likewise has suggested that the United States international took the wrong career path. Kasey Keller forged his reputation at Millwall before going on to represent Leicester, Tottenham and Fulham, while Brad Friedel is another who took a step backwards from Liverpool to Blackburn before becoming a Premier League stalwart.
GettyWHAT KASEY KELLER SAID
Quizzed on what Turner needs in order to avoid seeing his starting berth with the USMNT come under threat, Keller – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “He’s getting picked because there is nobody else to challenge him! That’s a tricky one when you look at the situation. Friedel went three-and-a-half or four years at Liverpool without playing and then Brad was able to get to Blackburn in the Championship, and then they get promoted and he went on to have a great Premier League career.
“The hard part for Matt is, originally going to Arsenal was a hard push at that stage to say you’re going to break into this. But then when you go to a club like Forest, and then you go to Palace, there has to be a point where you’re either good enough for the Premier or you’re not.”
