Former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel has urged Matt Turner to reconsider his future at Arsenal to avoid losing his spot as the USMNT number one.
Turner made the switch to the Premier League in the summer from New England Revolution as Aaron Ramsdale's deputy in goal. The 28-year-old made 111 appearances in the USA but opted to seal a dream move to England and join Mikel Arteta's side.
Since his £7.5million move in the summer, Turner has made six appearances for the Gunners, but is yet to make an appearance in the Premier League. His outings have come in the FA Cup and UEFA Europa League.
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Despite the lack of action in England, Turner has continued to be an ever-present in between the sticks for the USMNT. He was one of three players to feature in all 360 minutes of the tournament in Qatar, keeping two clean sheets to become the first US goalkeeper to record multiple clean sheets in one edition of the World Cup since 1930.
However, Turner faces a tough ask of retaining his spot as the USA's primary goalkeeper with the emergence of Manchester City's Zack Steffen. The American is currently out on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough after failing to break into Pep Guardiola's first team.
The summer arrival of Stefan Ortega from German side Arminia Bielefeld meant Steffen was allowed to leave on a temporary basis. The 27-year-old has appeared 30 times for Boro, keeping seven clean sheets to help them inherit a play-off spot.
With Steffen putting in a number of fine performances, Friedel has encourage Turner to re-think his future to ensure he withholds his place at first choice. Speaking to sportingpost.com, the ex-Tottenham man said: "When I wasn’t playing consistently when I was at Liverpool I had to get out. Even though I loved the club and it was the team I supported, I had to leave for my career. You have such a short career as a professional footballer and you need to play as many games as possible inside that time.
"Look at Matt’s competition for the national team spot. He was the number one then and he’s gone all this time without playing, but Zack Steffen, who wasn’t getting a game at Manchester City, is now playing well for Middlesbrough. They are possible promotion candidates and all of a sudden with Zack playing at a high level in the Championship and potentially in the Premier League and he’s playing every week whilst Matt is on the bench, then you’re looking at another change in who is the number one keeper for the US national team.
"I think that Matt, no matter what, even though Arsenal are an incredible club, has to find consistent football somewhere. This season, fine, but if he’s not going to be the number one he has got to go. The only issue is that he’s on a long contract and if you’re Arsenal, why would you let him go? You’ve got an incredible goalkeeper, an incredible guy, a great worker, you have one of the best number two’s on the planet.
"I think it’s a tough position. I’d like for the US side of things, for Zack Steffen to be playing, for Ethan Horvath to be playing (which he is) and for Matt Turner to be playing so there is great competition because that makes everyone better."
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