The former U.S. youth international joins Indy after time in Mexico

Indy Eleven continued to strengthen its roster for the stretch run of the 2015 NASL Fall Season on Thursday with the signing of former U.S. youth international Daniel Cuevas.

Cuevas will be available for selection for Indy Eleven’s upcoming road contest this Saturday, September 12, at the defending NASL Champion San Antonio Scorpions (8:30 p.m. ET kickoff, live on ESPN3.com/WatchESPN app).

“Daniel showed a lot of talent and promise during his time in U.S. Soccer’s youth national teams system, and he’s proved while training with us over the last couple of months that the talent is still there,” Indy Eleven interim head coach and Director of Soccer Operations Tim Regan said. “He’s a guy that can play either on the left or centrally and has the ability to be a real difference maker for us around the goal.”

The 22-year-old Cuevas joins Indy Eleven after most recently playing for Lobos BUAP of the Ascenso MX (Mexican second division), where he suited up briefly alongside Mexican legend Cuauhtémoc Blanco. Cuevas’ last two games in Ascenso MX play in October 2014 included a goalscoring effort versus Venados on Ocober 17, and he also made six appearances in Mexico’s domestic club championship, Copa MX, between the 2013-14 campaigns.

“I’m really happy that I’m officially a part of the Indy Eleven squad and able to compete for a spot on game days,” Cuevas said. “I’m looking forward to being a bigger part of the team and hoping to help out where I can for the rest of the season.”

Cuevas joined Lobos on loan from Liga MX (first division) powerhouse Club Santos Laguna, where he played for the club’s Under-20 squad after signing in late 2012. Although he did not see first-team minutes during his short stint with the club, he did appear on Santos’ game-day roster for a Copa MX match in August 2013.

“Daniel Cuevas is a talented young player who has a bright future ahead of him,” Indy Eleven President and General Manager Peter Wilt said. “We fully expect Daniel to add to the heightened level of competition in training every day and for minutes on the field as we continue to fight for a spot in The Championship.”

The native of Sacramento, Calif., first started turning heads while with the U.S. Under-20 national team, as he scored twice in three appearances during CONCACAF regional qualifying in February 2013 to help secure the USA’s spot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey that summer.

Despite suffering a meniscus tear in the final match of the qualifying tournament against Mexico, Cuevas would be back with Team USA – also featuring his new Indy Eleven teammate Victor Pineda – in time for the finals in June, when he came on as a substitute in each of the team’s group stage games. After entering late in a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Spain, Cuevas helped the U.S. to a 1-1 draw with eventual champion France with a goal in the 85th minute before also appearing against Ghana in the team’s group stage – and tournament – finale.