Landon Donovan has called on U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino to hand 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan his first senior call-up this month. Sullivan has impressed with the Philadelphia Union since making his way into the starting lineup earlier this season, becoming one of his team's most important players despite his age. After his goal against the New York Red Bulls over the weekend, Sullivan is up to six goals and 11 assists across all competitions this season. He has goal contributions in four straight games, tied for the longest such streak by an under-18 player in MLS history. Long considered one of the best prospects in American soccer, Sullivan's displays this season have led to speculation his chance with the USMNT could come as soon as later this month. According to USMNT legend Donovan, it is already be time to bring Sullivan into the fold. "I'm saying call him in," Donovan said this week on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast with Tim Howard. "There are not many attacking players in America who are American who are doing this. In fact, I don't know if there are any. And he's 16, Tim. So if you think he's part of it in four years, you get him in now." The USMNT has scheduled four friendlies in late September and early October, its first matches after the 2026 World Cup. Should Sullivan play in the USMNT's next game, Sept. 26 against Peru, he would be two days shy of his 17th birthday, making him the fourth-youngest player to suit up for the men's national team. Howard agreed with Donovan's assessment, saying that Sullivan's mental make-up will help him be ready for the step up to the international level. "He's got moxie, he's got swagger, he's got arrogance," the longtime USMNT goalkeeper said. "He's a good kid, by the way. I spent time with him, he comes from a really good family."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Landon Donovan says Cavan Sullivan, 16, deserves USMNT call-up