Giovanni Reyna hasn’t been selected by Nottingham Forest recently, but Gregg Berhalter has summoned him up to the USMNT squad.
The head coach has spoken to Goal about his decision to call up the Forest loanee.
So, what has Berhalter said about Forest forward Reyna? Let’s look more closely.
What Gregg Berhalter stated regarding calling up Giovanni Reyna.
Despite his failure to make an impact with Forest, it appears that he still has the support of his international coach.
It was expected that Forest forward Reyna would miss time due to injury, but Berhalter’s choice suggests otherwise.
After selecting the player for the Nations League semi-final against Jamaica, he has been justifying his decision to the media.
He told Goal: “It’s always troubling when players don’t get regular minutes, but we know that adapting to various leagues can take time.
“And, in Gio’s situation, he is transitioning from the Bundesliga to the incredibly fast-paced Premier League. His side, in particular, is particularly robust and energetic on the counterattack.
“We are not surprised that it is taking them a little longer, but we trust he will be able to do it in the end. For us, he has done well over the last year, and we believe it is enough to put him in the squad.”
Reyna can still play a major role at Forest.
It will be difficult for Reyna, but he hopes to receive the opportunity to start a game for Forest soon.
At 21 years old, this was always a loan with a development plan in mind, and adjusting to the Premier League has clearly been difficult.
Reyna has only played 38 minutes since joining Forest on loan from Borussia Dortmund, and he has yet to get a fair chance.
Forest still has 10 games to play, and Nuno Espirito Santo will want his entire squad ready to go if needed.
Clearly, he’s a talented young man, and Reyna hopes to have the opportunity to show himself to Forest before the end of the current campaign.
It’s not surprising that the USMNT has called him up, and maybe playing for his country will boost his confidence and help him get started at Forest.
