Trusty, Jones receive U.S. U20 call-ups

Derrick Jones and Auston Trusty are heading to Costa Rica to rejoin the U.S. U20 team for an international training camp December 13-20.

The homegrown duo who spent the bulk of last season playing for Bethlehem Steel FC were among the 20 players invited to the camp by head coach Tab Ramos.

Ramos is using the camp, which includes a pair of friendlies against the Costa Rica U20 team, to prepare the squad for the 2017 CONCACAF U20 Championships to be held in Costa Rica from February 17 to March 5.

“This will be a great opportunity for our players to get acclimated to Costa Rica and get a sense of what they can expect in February.” Ramos said in a news release. “The chance to play Costa Rica twice will be a good test for our guys to see where they stand against the host nation, who is playing at a very high level.”

The roster includes 17 who played in the Development Academy and seven players from college programs. Jones and Trusty, both Philadelphia Union Academy alums, are among 11 players on the roster currently signed to a professional contract. Emmanuel Sabbi is the lone player from a professional team abroad (UD Las Palmas in La Liga).

The camp is the third this year and will be the first competitive action for the team since playing Germany, Netherlands and England in October’s Four Nations Tournament.