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Brad Guzan is the new USA No.1 and that’s the way he intends it to stay.

With Everton’s Tim Howard announcing a year-long break from international football, the Aston Villa man has been promoted by Jurgen Klinsmann to first-choice goalkeeper.

It’s been a long time coming – Guzan has been to two World Cups and played second fiddle to Howard for many years.

His club form couldn’t have been any better. The only factor that might have thwarted his progress with the national side was Villa’s struggles in the Premier League.

But ahead of Wednesday’s friendly in the Czech Republic, Guzan has revealed his determination to flourish in what is a new beginning for the USA camp.

Howard may still return to the squad in September 2015 but by then Guzan hopes to have done enough to cement his starting berth.

“Hopefully I’ll play in the game,” he told the Birmingham Mail.

“I had some brief conversations with Jurgen Klinsmann before we left Brazil and he’s said it’s now a new cycle.

“Everything from here, and backwards, it’s all behind us now. It’s all about 2018 now.

“We’ve got a busy four years as a national team.”

Guzan said Howard had deserved to keep his place as No.1 in recent times because he was performing consistently well for a much longer period than himself.

The Villa stopper had to be patient for his chance in the Midlands but since getting the nod from club boss Paul Lambert at the start of the 2012/13 season he has not looked back.

For the USA he has only just got his breakthrough and is determined to make the most of it after admitting he would have loved to feature in the World Cup games.

“It’s a tricky situation because you want to play,” he said when looking back at the experience of the recent Finals in Brazil.

“But, as I’ve always said, as a goalkeeper you are part of this union. There’s an understanding that only one of you is going to play. Tim has been fantastic for the US.

“For me, when you’re part of a World Cup team, it’s no longer necessarily about who is playing.

“It’s all about helping the team and doing what you can to help the team.

“Whether you are playing or not it’s about helping the team go further. We fell a bit short this time.

“But Tim has been over here for 10 or 12 years so if I have been consistent for two years he has been consistent for 10/12 years.

“You always want to be playing and in the team but for me when you are part of a World Cup team it is so much bigger than being an individual player. My job is to go week in, week out and try to get better and help Villa get results.

“To be in the American team and be part of a World Cup team was an honour and a privilege.

“The World Cup is the ultimate experience.

“I’ve been fortunate to be involved in two of them now. Hopefully, with a little bit of luck, come 2018 I’ll be a part of a third and hopefully be playing.”

Howard’s announcement to sit out international football for a year came as a surprise to many.

His form for Everton has been consistent, but now Guzan has a chance to impress.

Klinsmann said recently: “I told him as long as he is the same Tim Howard we always see performing well, he will be welcomed back with open arms and right back competing for a spot.

“He knows he has to prove that he deserves to be back. This gives us a huge opportunity to see Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando going forward and fighting for the No.1 spot.’’

Guzan’s passion for the game will stand him in good stead.

Nobody enjoys a victory more than the man between the sticks and his post-match expressions highlight that.

With football growing at a rapid rate in the States and becoming a much more popular sport, the ‘keeper is excited about being a part of the national set-up during such positive times.

“It’s getting bigger and bigger with every major tournament and result,” he added.

“To be a part of an American team where the sport is constantly on the rise and growing is exciting because, first and foremost, you’re a fan of the game.

“To see how it has grown in the last few years in my home country is fantastic.

“To be a part of that World Cup experience was truly an honour.”