Alejandro Bedoya suggests his move to French club Nantes in the summer has contributed to him being recalled by the USA.
The 26-year old midfielder arrived at the Ligue 1 outfit from Swedish club Helsingborgs in August and is loving his time in his new environment which has helped him gain selection for Friday's World Cup qualifier with Jamaica and Tuesday's trip to Panama.
"The first thing was to go to one of the top five leagues in the world, where I can probably find sufficient playing time to increase my chances of making the World Cup," Bedoya told reporters. "That was pretty much the focus for me.
"Of course, they're a newly-promoted team, but I looked into their history, everything like that, and it's a pretty big club in France. I knew that obviously being promoted, they wanted to remain in Ligue 1, and after having talks with the director there, and the coaches, I knew what direction they were trying to go by bringing me in.
"Obviously, they can't ever guarantee or promise anything, but they let me know that they thought I could be a key figure for the club."
Of his current national team situation, Bedoya says he has his performances at the summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup to thank for now being on Juergen Klinsmann's World Cup radar.
"I think that Jurgen made it clear that the Gold Cup, for any of the players, was very much an opportunity to showcase to him your abilities," Bedoya added. "It could increase your chances - or, I guess, I guess it could hurt your chances, too. It could do both. But there's more to gain from a tournament like that.
"I guess you guys can say stocks have risen for certain players and lowered for others. I think for me, being in the position I am now, the Gold Cup definitely helped me."
