Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner has spoken about a time when his international future was in flux.

The American, who is currently with the USMNT, spoke about his previous ambition to play for Lithuania.

The former Arsenal and New England Revolution keeper spoke to CBS Sports about a possible international switch.

Turner recounted to CBS: “My great grandmother emigrated from Lithuania during the war, fled religious persecution. She came to Ellis Island, New York and lived the dream that way. We had to move my grandfather out of his house and I found these old immigration papers from her, so my dad and I were able to reinstate our [Lithuanian] citizenship.

“I actually contacted the Lithuanian FA. I was like, 'I want international games.' They were going through a Euro qualifying cycle. This was after my first year really playing for the Revs, so this was 2018.

“I'm like, 'I have my passport, I'm reinstating my citizenship. I would love to get in touch with my roots, which is true. I would love go to Lithuania'. But obviously coronavirus (Covid) threw a huge wrinkle into everything. 'But I would love to get in touch with my roots and be there and feel the culture but also, I'm a soccer player and I want to represent the national team'.

“They were about to do Euro qualifiers and I think they were going to play England and Portugal in the window. I'm like, 'This is my opportunity. If I could get in there, then I'm going to play against England and Portugal and all I need is a crack in the door and I'll ball and then I'll get my move'. But they never texted me back or emailed me back."