Since preseason camp in January, Minnesota United forward Christian Ramirez has thought about how what a fast start to his debut season in Major League Soccer might mean for his bid to earn a spot on the U.S. national team.

But despite eight goals in his first 14 games, Ramirez was not among the seven forwards named Saturday to the preliminary 40-man roster for the Gold Cup in July. The U.S. currently fights an uphill battle in World Cup qualifying matches scheduled for Thursday, Sunday and into the fall.

The next-best opportunity for Ramirez to earn his first call-up would be for friendlies in January, but those exhibitions could be important tuneups if the U.S. qualifies for the World Cup in Russia next summer. Coach Bruce Arena could opt to keep more of the core group together for those matches.

“The Gold Cup was the opportunity,” Ramirez told the Pioneer Press after the Loons’ training session Thursday.

Ramirez, of Garden Grove, Calif., scored in his first MLS game March 3 and his eight goals put him in a seven-way tie for the third-most in the league this season.

Ramirez’s scoring total is tied with C.J. Sapong for the most tallies among the seven forwards in contention to play in the Gold Cup, a U.S.-based tournament between countries from North America, Central American and the Caribbean.

“I was really disappointed for (Ramirez),” United coach Adrian Heath said. “I think he had done more than enough.”

The roster includes national team stalwarts Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey and up-and-comer Jordan Morris. There’s also Chris Wondolowski, Juan Agudelo, Sapong and Dom Dwyer, an English-born player who recently earned U.S. citizenship to help pave the way for his first call-up.

Ramirez had received encouragement from former U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann but has not had communication with Arena or his staff. “I don’t know if there is any interest or not,” he said.

Ramirez, 26, is aware of many national publications putting him on shortlists of Gold Cup snubs.

“It’s disappointing to not be in that list, but nothing comes easy,” he said. “… If that call ever comes, I will be blessed to be able to do it. But it adds motivation on top of being disappointing.

“But I can’t hang my head for too long on that. We’ve got bigger tasks ahead in the following weeks, and hopefully (we’ll) continue to show more results to keep my name still in there.”