The USA center back, keen on making his mark with Tottenham’s first team this year, is part of the next generation of American players ready to wash away the acid memory of Russia 2018

'We're over it': Carter-Vickers eager to take place with USA and Spurs

In Earnie Stewart’s full-to-bursting inbox, resolving the ‘Europe question’ will not be far below the priority of appointing a head coach, when he begins his role as new USMNT general manager next week.

The competing philosophies over whether to pick MLS-based players or choose those plying their trade in the European leagues dogged the US throughout their failed bit to reach Russia. Geoff Cameron’s post-mortem assertion that it created a “poisonous divide” in the squad remains an utterly damning assessment of US Soccer and then-coach Bruce Arena’s handling of the issue.

Summer transfer window: club-by-club guide for the Premier League Read more

But if Stewart and Arena’s long-term successor are to follow the lead of caretaker boss Dave Sarachan and restore Jürgen Klinsmann’s outlook of prominently featuring those earning a wage on the other side of the Atlantic, then Christian Pulisic is merely the ringleader of a rich next generation of European-based American talent.

Andrija Novakovich (Fortuna Sittard), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), Keaton Parks (Benfica), Luca de la Torre (Fulham), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen), Timothy Weah (PSG), Weston McKennie (Schalke), Shaquell Moore (Reus), Antonee Robinson (Everton), Erik Palmer-Brown (Breda) and Matthew Olosunde (Manchester United) have all been blooded during Sarachan’s six-game tenure. None will be over the age of 25 by the time of the 2022 World Cup.

The same goes for Tottenham Hotspur center back Cameron Carter-Vickers – currently in California for the club’s participation in the International Champions Cup pre-season tournament. After making his USMNT debut as a half-time substitute in November’s friendly against Portugal and starting both of last month’s encounters against France and Ireland, the 20-year-old is determined to remain part of a rising crop of young talent.

The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email.

“I feel there’s definitely a strong group of players coming through in the next generation. We’ll all young, we’re all hungry and we’re all passionate about the US. We want to do well for ourselves and for the country,” he told the Guardian.

“I feel like every player goes on different paths. There’s obviously a lot of competitive leagues in Europe, so for players to be playing at a good level every week definitely helps, and it will definitely help the US.”

While Carter-Vickers was thousands of miles away from the blood-letting and questioning which followed last October’s debacle in Trinidad and Tobago, he was well aware of the ramifications of failing to reach a first World Cup in more than 30 years.

But the English-born defender – who qualifies for the US through father Howard Carter, who had brief stints in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks – senses that focus has now shifted from asking what went wrong, to making sure that the USMNT reclaim a seat on the world stage in Qatar 2022.

“I feel that both the federation and as a group of players, we’re over that now. We’re already looking to work towards the next qualifying campaign and moving on from there,” Carter-Vickers said.

“The next World Cup is a must for the US. From a personal perspective, by the time the next qualifying campaign comes around, I want to be in the position where I can help the US and play in those qualifying games, and then hopefully help us do well at the World Cup.”

Which football club has made the biggest profit on a player in their 30s? | The Knowledge Read more

If Carter-Vickers is to fulfill his international ambitions though, he is under no illusions that he needs to be playing regular first-team football for his club. Last season provided an invaluable learning curve after he enjoyed loan spells at Championship outfits Sheffield United and Ipswich Town.

“I was getting a lot of game time alongside some experienced players at both clubs. That’s really helped me and I feel like I’ve improved as a player,” he said.

But after signing a new contract until 2021 with Spurs in May, the upcoming Premier League campaign could be a seminal one in Carter-Vickers’ long-term future at White Hart Lane. He turns 21 in December and knows he is at a stage of his career where he needs to be challenging for a first-team spot under Mauricio Pochettino.

Spurs’ 10-day stint in the States is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the academy product’s progress to Pochettino, with many of the club’s first-team regulars still on holiday after their World Cup commitments.

“I’ve come back to Spurs this pre-season and I’ve been focused on working hard in every training session and trying to impress the manager as much as I can. I’m at that age now where I want to be playing games,” he added.

“I’ve just signed again [a new contract] at Tottenham, so I’m aiming to get into that starting XI. I feel if you impress the manager here and you do the right things on the training pitch, he’ll give you that opportunity.”

If Carter-Vickers can make the grade at Spurs, then he may well have already determined the philosophy of the next USMNT coach.