Matt Turner believes January USMNT camp will help New England Revolution

There’s no doubt that getting to represent your country is a great honor but New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner believes that it will also help him headed into the 2021 MLS season.

Turner just re-signed with the club and looks like he will be with the club for the foreseeable future. The only thing that would take him away from the New England would be a hefty transfer fee.

The goalkeeper’s value only seems to be on the rise. 2020 was an amazing season for Turner as he was named Team MVP and finished second in MLS Goalkeeper of the Year voting.

Then once the Revs offseason began, Turner was handed his third call-up to the USMNT. He is currently down in Florida participating in January camp for the second straight season.

Turner isn't the only Revolution player down in Florida. Henry Kessler has been training with the U-23 squad.

On Tuesday, Turner spoke to the media about his experience down in camp as well as his thoughts on Kessler’s performance for the red, white, and blue.

He said. “I think, so far for me personally, I felt like I’ve been playing well and training well which is good. For [Henry] Kessler, it kind of stinks. They’ve kept the senior team and the [U-23’s] separate, in a lot of ways, except on the field. From what I’ve seen from Henry, I think that he’s done a really great job and he’s settling in. He’s a very analytical guy so I think that aligns well with what the National Team is trying to do in terms of their principals of play. He’s learning a lot. I think I’ve seen him grow as a player and he’s adapted really, really well to what the coaches are asking him to do. I think that’s something the coaches have taken note of. If me and Henry can bring things we’ve learned back to the Revs, that’s two players now that’ll be in that mindset and can help the level of our team every day in training, and then on the field in games.”

Turner also went into more detail about how much of an advantage playing for the USMNT will be for him as he prepares for the 2021 season.

He said. “I think it’s a huge advantage because every time you step onto the field – for me, anyway – I try to get better so it helps me get sharper around players that are of the highest level, of the National Team level. That helps me to become a better goalkeeper because of it. I’m playing in a style that I’m not particularly comfortable with but I’m getting better and better at it, and that’s just going to add to my arsenal of what I bring onto the field with the Revolution as well as learning to play with new players that I’m not really familiar with. That’s always, and also playing against other guys in MLS. That way when the time comes that we see them in the regular season, maybe you picked up a habit or two and you might be able to tell which way they’re going on a shot. It’s been great and obviously the time with the National Team has helped me to become a better, more consistent goalkeeper.”

The next step for Turner will be gaining his first MNT cap. His next chance will be when the United States goes up against Trinidad & Tobago on January 31st.

But Revolution fans will be more than pleased to know that Turner will be hitting the ground running when the 2021 MLS season begins. If the Revolution want to make another run in the MLS Cup Playoffs, they will definitley need Turner to once again have a superb season between the sticks.