Cavan Sullivan is currently enjoying a major breakout season, establishing himself as a starter for the Philadelphia Union at just 16 years old.
Following his impressive run of form, the teenager has attracted attention from fans and soccer experts alike.
Former USMNT legend Tim Howard has now opened up about Sullivan, his development and his future with the national team.
Tim Howard’s Roadmap for Cavan Sullivan
Sullivan has five goals and seven assists in 25 games this season for the Philadelphia Union, and Howard believes U.S. Soccer must give the youngster enough opportunities to develop and learn from his experiences.
“Here’s what other countries do, and we need to be better at this in America,” Howard said on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast.
“We don’t get a lot of players like yourself [Landon Donovan], like Clint [Dempsey], like Christian Pulisic, like Cavan Sullivan.”
Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images
The former Everton goalkeeper explained that Sullivan needs experience with the national team before eventually making the move to bigger clubs in Europe.
“Cavan Sullivan needs to play nearly every game [for the USMNT] between now and 2030. Here’s why, so he can make mistakes, so that he can continue to play in MLS, he’s then going to go on to Man City, right?”
“He might not play; they might loan him out. They don’t loan their players out to like rinky-dink teams. There’s a pathway for Man City players.”
Howard believes that rather than waiting until Sullivan establishes himself as a regular in Europe, Mauricio Pochettino should give him opportunities with the USMNT now.
“So then he’s playing week in, week out in Europe, and then instead of going, ‘Oh, this kid now is playing week in, week out in Europe, now in 2029, we’ll start playing him.”
“No, no, play him now. Play him now. Let him make his mistakes. Let him bleed into the team so that in 2030, at the World Cup, we have a 20-year-old who’s like, ‘Give me the ball. Give me the ball on the biggest stage,'” said Howard.
