Fulham legend Brian McBride is tipping young Cottager and fellow American Emerson Hyndman for big things at this former club.
Hyndman, 18, joined the club’s youth academy in 2012, and has since enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks at Craven Cottage, proving a core contributor to under-18s side’s run to the FA Youth Cup final last season.
Making his professional debut as part of an inexperienced line-up in the season opener against Ipswich Town, the emerging midfielder made three starts over the first month of the season, which earned him a surprise call-up to the senior national team for the match against Czech Republic in Prague.
Appearing as a 67th-minute substitute for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side, big things are expected of the promising teenager at the both the club and international level moving forward and, while he has not featured on a regular basis for Fulham in recent weeks, McBride remains excited about his undoubted potential.
The US icon hasn’t yet reached out to his compatriot, despite being closely involved with the club over the past month as part of the five-man search committee to find Felix Magath’s replacement, but believes that the environment at the Cottage is the perfect place for him to develop his talents.
“I haven’t reached out or talked with him but I’ve certainly seen him play a few times. Yeah, you can see the talent is there,” he said. Of course the history with his family is very soccer-oriented. There is a lot going for him. At Fulham right now, especially with Kit [Symons] being the new coach, he understands the strengths and weaknesses of all the players breaking in right now. He has a lot of positives happening right now in that movement.”
