Seattle Sounders defender Jeff Parke admits it bothers him that he has never been selected for the USA national team.
The 29-year old has been a consistent MLS performer over his career and in particular has been at the top of his game this season as the Sounders look towards the play-offs after winning the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Ahead of the Conference semi-final first leg with Real Salt Lake this weekend, Parke told the Seattle Times that it was an issue for him that he has never featured on the radar of national team selectors.
"It bothers me a lot, actually," said Parke. "I always wonder why I haven't even gotten a sniff or been brought into a camp.
"It's a tough pill to swallow sometimes, but it's all a part of the game. Some guys stand out and other guys are just those guys who put in the hard work and don't get seen."
Despite the ongoing US team snub, Parke says he is absolutely delighted to be a part of the Sounders setup and plans to stick around for a while yet.
"I'm here now and this is where I want to be," added Parke. "This is the club I want to be a part of and I've loved every minute."
