Famously developed through the Bayern Munich youth system, the Tampa-born, German-raised Green has spent the vast majority of his club career trying to justify its auspicious beginning. Little came of four years of struggling to break through with one of the best teams in the world. So in January, Green made what could be seen as a humbling move to Stuttgart, which was relegated after last season from the vaunted German Bundesliga to the second division.

“It’s not a big risk,” Green said last week in an interview with The Washington Post. “I played at Bayern Munich, one of the biggest clubs in the world, but I didn’t have so much playing time. So this isn’t so much a step back because here I get my playing time. That was the reason I went to Stuttgart.”

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Playing time for country follows production with club. That’s why Green’s chance with Stuttgart could have a major effect on his prospects to be named to Bruce Arena’s squad for the Americans’ crucial World Cup qualifiers next month against Honduras and Panama.

“At Bayern I trained every day at the highest level but for young players it’s hard if you don’t actually play. For a young player you need to pick up the minutes every weekend and get the chance to get in gear. The chance is higher here at Stuttgart than it was at Bayern. Which was reason enough to move here.”

Green has appeared in all five of Stuttgart’s matches since signing with the club in January, starting the first four and scoring one goal while playing on the left wing. By contrast, he spent most of his time with Bayern playing for its reserves in the fourth tier of German soccer. He has played only five Bundesliga matches in his career, all while on unsuccessful loan to Hamburg.

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Despite bagging most of his 25 goals and 12 assists in 51 games for Bayern’s youth team from the left wing, Green was oddly repurposed as a backup striker to Robert Lewandowski or Thomas Müller under Manager Pep Guardiola and then Carlo Ancelotti.

“It doesn’t really matter to me where I’m playing,” Green said of his role before admitting: “Maybe on the left wing it’s easier for me because I’m right-footed. So I can cut inside and shoot on goal. But I can also play on the right wing with no problem.”

Left wing is also where Green has performed best for the U.S. national team. Each of his eight appearances with the Americans have been from the left side, and that’s where he scored both of his goals in two international friendlies last year.

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Yet a lot has changed since then. Jurgen Klinsmann, who named Green to the 2014 World Cup roster where he became the youngest American ever to score in the event, is gone. In his place is Arena, who has spent the past month crisscrossing the globe scouting for his next qualifying roster, including Green.

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“He was at the game against Heidenheimer [Feb. 17] and then we had a talk on the phone,” Green confirmed when asked if Arena had reached out to him. “We had a good talk and I hope I can be in the squad.”

Green added: “He said he’s looking out for me and is always watching what I’m doing here in Stuttgart. And that was it. So we’ll see what happens.”

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Fellow German-based stars Christian Pulisic and Fabian Johnson were favorites of Klinsmann’s, yet it’s impossible to tell who Arena will ultimately prefer on the wings for the U.S.’s qualifying matches on March 24 and 28 and then the foreseeable future.

“I know what I can do and I know that I can score goals,” said Green, who made three appearances with the Americans last year after none in 2015. “There are always players that can play there. I know that from Bayern. That’s normal and I think that’s good. But if I do my best and score my goals I’m very confident I can play for the USMNT.”

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Until the squad is revealed, Green can enjoy life in first place — and if that keeps up, another chance at the Bundesliga next season. Stuttgart has a five-point lead atop the second division. “From the first conversations with the club I had the feeling that it was the perfect fit for me,” Green said. “Everyone at the club wants to get back to the Bundesliga and that’s also my biggest goal.”

It would be another step forward for a player who has struggled to gain traction.