Mines joins the U-19 MNT, Fernandez will join the U-20 MNT and Tolkin to rejoin the U-17 MNT
HARRISON, N.J. (Jan. 4, 2019) – New York Red Bulls midfielder Ben Mines, Red Bulls U-23 midfielder Omir Fernandez and current Red Bulls Academy midfielder/defender John Tolkin were selected for the United States Men’s Youth National Team Training Camp from Jan. 4-13, the organization announced today. The January training camp will feature the U.S. Under-20, Under-19 and Under-17 Men’s National Teams at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
The camp will have three games between the U.S. squads and a to-be-determined opponent that will be open to the public. Mines and the U-19 side will face Fernandez and the U-20 squad on Jan. 8 at 4 p.m. ET. The Under-20s will then have a match on Jan. 12 against a to-be-determined opponent at 4 p.m. while Mines and the Under-19s will face Tolkin and the Under-17s at 6 p.m.
Mines is making his first appearance for the U-19 MNT this cycle. The Ridgefield, Connecticut, native started in his first career MLS match against Portland on March 10, including scoring his first career MLS goal in the 17th minute. Mines featured mainly with New York Red Bulls II, starting in nine of 14 matches he appeared in with one goal and one assist in 799 minutes played before season-ending surgery to repair a broken left clavicle on Aug. 31.
Fernandez, who just finished his sophomore season at Wake Forest, is making his first appearance for the U-20 MNT this cycle. After a strong freshman season as a super-sub for the Demon Deacons, the Bronx, New York, native started 20 of the team’s 21 matches with career bests in goals (12) and assists (6) in 2018. In two seasons for Wake Forest, Fernandez has recorded 18 goals and 11 assists, including six game-winning goals, in 44 matches.
Tolkin, a Chatham, New Jersey, native, will join the U-17 MNT for the third time in this cycle. The Red Bulls Academy midfielder/defender was first called into the U-17s for international friendlies against India and Norway in the 2018 Sportchain Cup. He was then called into U-17 squad for matches against Mexico and Costa Rica during their international training camp in San Jose, Costa Rica.
