(update) - This team's trip has been delayed by the disruption in European and trans-Atlantic air travel caused by the volcanic activity in Iceland.

 

CHICAGO - U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team head coach Wilmer Cabrera has taken a 20-player roster to Manchester, England, for a week of training and then to Gradisca, Italy, for the International Tournament of Gradisca. It is the first international trip for this cycle of players.

The team departed for England Thursday to train on the grounds of Premier League giant Manchester City. In addition to daily training on the academy grounds, the U.S. will face youth teams from Manchester City and Wigan on April 20 and 22.

The next day, the team will depart for Italy where they will open the 23rd International Tournament of Gradisca against Mexico on Sunday, April 25. Cabrera’s side will also play Romania on April 26 and Croatia on April 27, with semifinals slated for April 28 and the final for April 30.

The U.S. roster includes nine players who participated in the 2009 Nike International Friendlies in Phoenix, Ariz., which represented the team’s first international games. There are 15 players on the roster who helped the team to a 4-1 win against Mexico on Feb. 24 in Raymond James Stadium, including goalscorers Kellen Gulley, Alejandro Guido and Marc Pelosi. One player not currently in Residency, Matt Dunn, will be joining the team from Germany.

U.S. U-17 Roster by Position

GOALKEEPERS (2): Wade Hamilton (Murietta, Calif.; Arsenal FC), Fernando Pina (Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas)
DEFENDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas Juniors; Plano, Texas), Holden Fender (Marietta, Ga.; North Atlanta SA), Riggs Lennon (Sereno SC; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Alessandro Mion (Miami FC Kendall; Miami, Fla.), Marc Pelosi (De Anza Force; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Nathan Smith (Cal Odyssey; Clovis, Calif.), Andrew Souders (Columbus Crew Academy; Amherst, Ohio)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Joseph Amon (South Carolina United; Summerville, S.C.), Matt Dunn (FC Koeln; Boulder, Colo.), Alejandro Guido (Aztecs FC Premier; Chula Vista, Calif.), Nicholas Melo (Florida Rush; Kissimmee, Fla.), Tarik Salkicic (Strictly Soccer; Pinellas Park, Fla.)
FORWARDS (6): Nicko Corriveau (Bethesda SC; Potomac, Md.), Kellen Gulley (MS Chicago Fire Juniors; Clinton, Miss.), Takuya Okada (Aztecs FC Premier; San Diego, Calif.), Andrew Oliver (Westside United; Indianapolis, Ind.), Esteban Rodriguez (LAFC Chelsea; Palmdale, Calif.), Mario Rodriguez (Central Aztecs; North Hollywood, Calif.)