Sidelined Daryl Dike determined to be part of USMNT’s push to promote the World Cup in January

It’s been four months since the Orlando City striker Daryl Dike was on the U.S. Men’s National Team roster, but the Nigerian-American told ESPN he is determined to be in the World Cup qualifying squad in January.

Since helping the US win the Gold Cup, often thwarted by injury, the forward was left out of all subsequent teams when the USMNT negotiated World Cup qualifiers in October and November.

The latest squad for the upcoming December 18 friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, consisting mainly of MLS players, was named last week, sans Dike again despite him. formed in the 2021 season.

According to coach Gregg Berhalter, the aim is to keep these players healthy as they head into the season, before Qatar qualifying in January.

Berhalter solved absence of the 21-year-old: “He’s beaten. He needs to recover.

“The most important thing at the moment for Daryl is to rest and recuperate so he can focus again in January and build himself up again.”

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Dike, who was enjoying a purple hue before the season ended for Orlando in late November, expressed his disappointment but said he was ready for the fight to regain his place before January.

He told ESPN: “Of course, I want to be in every camp and every game, but at the same time, having to go through the recent hits with the shoulder, with tendinitis, and other things, I think. maybe it could happen.for the better i didnt go [to those camps].

“But I’ve always wanted to be on the team. And for me, that’s how I can get to the next game? How can I make the next list? And of course, it’s disappointing not to not. go but at the same time, it just adds fuel for me to push myself to where there’s no brain to get me to each match.”

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USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter explains his thought process when selecting the 26-man squad for the friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

That fuel is what has driven him so far, as competition for the roles of USMNT strikers heats up in preparation for next year’s World Cup.

Dike added: “Looking at the striker positions of the national team, there are a lot of good players. Gyasi [Zardes] is a great player. Yes Josh [Sargent], Yes Jordan [Morris], Matthew [Hoppe], you know, there’s tons of great quality out there.

“Each of us offers a different type of attribute to the team and different skill sets. And so figuring out which is best for a situation is best. For me, I’m just fine. I know that in the end, I want to be a part of that, I want to be on the starting team.

“I realize that I still have a lot of work to do. And I realize that there is still a lot to learn but I will keep improving and I will try to achieve but just keep working.”

While Christian Pulisic, Sargent and Zardes are formidable opponents, in just the second year of his professional career the former University of Virginia standout player has made a very convincing case for himself.

After a successful first season with Orlando, where he scored eight goals and three assists in 17 MLS appearances, Dike moved on to Barnsley on loan in the English Championship.

His nine goals in 22 appearances were instrumental in lifting them from 12th – where they were when he arrived – into the Playoffs. Though that adventure was ultimately unsuccessful, the youngster did enough to get himself in the spotlight and make his national team debut in January.

Unable to squeeze into the CONCACAF Nations League starting XI in May, Berhalter liked enough of what he saw in the striker to take him with him, and he was on the pitch alongside the rest of the squad. to celebrate that historic victory over rivals Mexico in the Finals.

A few days later, he opened his international account in a post-tournament friendly match with Costa Rica, then a brace for Orlando City first San Jose earthquake to win a striker spot at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

He did not disappoint, getting his tournament off to a brilliant start by scoring twice in a 6-1 win over Martinique, in an astonishing performance that prompted Berhalter to question Dike’s place in the overall lineup.

“I don’t think now is appropriate to make a judgment,” Berhalter said at the time.

“I think he performed well. I think he scored some good goals. He showed why we really appreciate him and we think he’s an important part. important on our team, but we don’t base our conclusions on anyone based on today.”

Unfortunately, Dike got little chance to show his talent, having injured his shoulder in the final group stage match against Canada Not only did that limit his appearance in the later stages of the Gold Cup, but it also kept him out of five MLS games.

His return to playing in the league, however, is nothing short of enticing. Given a month off from Orlando City to recuperate, Dike started right where he left off. He has scored eight goals and one assist in 14 appearances, including seven in his last nine and four in his last four.

He said: “Every player who goes into every game knows that it is another chance to prove himself.

“You go into the game, you go into the practice sessions, thinking you want to be a part of every tournament, every camp, and then, at the end of the day, you want to be part of the Squad too. attend the World Cup.”

The drive to be excellent, to get better every day, comes from watching our big brothers plow the road. Born to Nigerian parents, Dike finds himself in a unique situation.

Brother Bright and sister Courtney both represent Nigeria at the international level, and Daryl says he is inspired by them, especially Bright, who has played for Portland Wood and Toronto FCand won two Super Eagles caps.

Dike said of his brother: “He’s been a huge inspiration. You see the things he’s done, you see the goals he’s scored, the teams he’s played, the levels he’s played, the levels he’s played. play.

“It motivates me because I look at him, I look at my sister, and all the people around me, it makes me think I want to be able to do all the things that they did, or even get over it. them and do more.

“Having those people in front of you, seeing that it’s possible, seeing that, you just have to work, keep yourself grounded, and all these things, and you can get to those levels, that’s the thing. That inspires me.”

He could go down the same path, Daryl said, if Nigeria calls. He could have worn green and white rather than the Stars and Stripes.

The Lions striker added: “I never had a chance to play for Nigeria. For my brother, Nigeria came to him and gave him the chance to play with the national team, and of course, with the national team. , Courtney as well as she has played in the Olympics and is under 20, playing the World Cup.

“For them, it was just someone who gave them a chance. Because for all of us, Nigeria and USA are big parts of our lives, big parts of our identities.

“Growing up you always wanted to represent a national team, you always dreamed of playing in Gold Cups, African Nations Cups, World Cups and playing with great players.

“And for me, getting the chance to play against the United States was a big moment for me. Because it’s another big step in my career to be able to achieve the goals that I’m aiming for. I’ve dreamed of it since I was a kid and I’m so proud of it.”

His family shares that pride, and it was special to him as they watched him lift the Gold Cup: “Before the semi-finals and quarter-finals, my family went to [to a game] And it was a great moment for me.

“My family was never able to come see me play professionally because of COVID, because of travel, because of the distance when I was there. England.

“So to finally be able to play in front of them and after the final to see my brother in the stands smiling, how happy he was… it was a great feeling for me, because because it makes me feel like I’m making them proud.”

And now he wants to make them even more proud by fighting to make it into the World Cup team of the year: “Whether on the team or not, I will always support the US because it’s my team.

“But I know I’ll have to keep working, keep improving, to get back there and go to the World Cup.”