Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson has been backed to impress for the United States during the World Cup in Qatar.
The Lowdown: Aaronson's season so far
The Whites signed the midfielder in May and have since seen him become a pivotal figure in Jesse Marsch's side.
Having started all 14 of Leeds' Premier League games this term, the 22-year-old has netted one goal and provided two assists in the process.
With the American now in Qatar to represent his country in the World Cup, he has been backed to be a big player for them in the tournament.
The Latest: Aaronson backed for strong World Cup
Speaking to the official MLS website, Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni was full of praise for the Leeds star heading into the World Cup.
He said of Aaronson: "He really drives a group forward and is also crafty enough to create and to score goals. I don't think he's a sleeper by any stretch. He's a top player for this team, but if he has a good start to the World Cup, he can be super influential and dictate things."
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The Verdict: Aaronson could be a key player for USA
Taking a look at what Aaronson has done for Leeds so far this season, this could be a clue as to what he'll be able to do for his country, who will be taking on England, Wales and Iran in the group stage of the World Cup.
Across his 14 league games this season, the 22-year-old has racked up the highest number of shot-creating actions (51) at Leeds, along with the joint-highest number of blocks (21). This shows how creative a player he is and also how hard-working he can be when not in possession.
Taking all that into account, the Whites dynamo is definitely a player that the USA's opponents will need to watch closely in Qatar and try to stop him from being as influential in those games as Mastroeni believes he can be.