Edson Buddle was delighted to receive a USA national team call-up this week and says he feels more confident as he now knows what to expect.
The in-form FC Ingolstadt striker, who has scored five in ten in the German 2.Bundesliga this term, has replaced the injured Landon Donovan in Juergen Klinsmann's squad for friendlies against Honduras and Ecuador and he feels comfortable coming in to a familiar environment.
"The biggest difference is that I know what to expect now. Trainings are hard every day," he told ussoccer.com.
"Sometimes you might have thought it's going to be a lighter day because you have a game or something else coming up, but they still train hard. I've gotten used to the routine of training and the environment."
And Buddle added that he is looking to take some newfound confidence into the upcoming US games whilst admitting it was now up to him to take the opportunity he has been handed after missing out on the last two matches in September (Costa Rica and Belgium).
"I'm starting to feel more confident. Scoring gives my teammates more confidence in me, which means you get the ball more, you get more playing time, and it builds. I'm also feeling more confident fitness-wise," he added.
"I'm feeling motivated. I walked away from the Mexico game (in August) feeling like I had put everything into it, and I know my work was appreciated.
"Not being called in has happened before. I know it wasn't anything personal. The following weekend I scored a goal, and Jurgen sent me a text saying congratulations and to keep going.
"I took that as motivation. Now I'm getting another chance. It's up to me to perform."
