Noel Buck

[ystradwales]

Neol is an American born MLS midfielder player who has been called up by England at u19 level.

But interestingly Wikipedia has him down as also been qualified for Wales via grandparent rule but the Atlantic article is behind the pay wall so unable to read it.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noel_Buck

Given he has chosen England over America doubt he'd be interested in a Wales call up.

Being tipped to make a move to the Premier League

[dragonsoccer]

theoleballcoach.com/

some info on this page
will get some more info asap

[Belle Vue]

Sure he will get some game time today for England Under 19s v Wales Under 19s in Montenegro - 2pm kick off

[welshrover]

Is there any player anywhere in the world England don't try to call up!!

It's a bit like that Chelsea period when they first got Roman's money, just signing every Tom, Dick and Harry so other teams can't have them.

[Belle Vue]

Looks like the FAW have been caught napping again i!!

[marsvolta]

Oct 14, 2023 8:31:05 GMT Belle Vue said:

Looks like the FAW have been caught napping again i!!

Again? Also, how do we know that the FAW have been caught napping? It could be that they’ve already approached him but he’s chose England

[Belle Vue]

Paddy Lane

[welshrover]

Oct 14, 2023 13:20:25 GMT Belle Vue said:

Paddy Lane

Is it your single goal in life to undermine everything about Welsh football.

I am embarrassed you choose the name of my team's ground as your username.

[Belle Vue]

No it’s not

[allezlesrouges]

Oct 14, 2023 8:31:05 GMT Belle Vue said:

Looks like the FAW have been caught napping again i!!

I rate this post 0/10

[fiveattheback]

I saw that he was playing for England u21 and thought the name rang a bell - did we ever find out if he's eligible?

Did the keeper (Stone?) opt for us in the end?

[talyfan]

From The Athletic. Says he has a Welsh grandmother but Dad is born and raised in England.

---

Noel Buck is the new kid in the England U-19 locker room. As is typically the language of love in these environments, he’s been welcomed into the group with jokes aplenty. Born and raised just outside of Boston, with a soft accent to constantly remind you of that, Buck knew he was going to be ribbed for sounding different.

“Obviously they make fun of me for being American. It’s been good,” Buck told The Athletic with a laugh. “We play some games, eat meals together. A lot of good lads there. I knew I was going to be made fun of for being American and my American lingo, even though I’ve been trying to not say too much of it.”

Buck is one of only two players in the group not currently based in England. The other, Adrian Blake, only left England this summer to sign for Utrecht in the Netherlands. The squad is filled with players from Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham, and now… the New England Revolution.

It didn’t take long to fit into the England group and it didn’t take long for him to stand out on the pitch. Buck started and scored in England’s 4-2 over Switzerland on Saturday after debuting with 24 minutes off the bench in a loss to Germany on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old breakout midfielder is eligible for England through his father, who was born in London and raised in Cambridgeshire. He moved to the United States a couple years before Noel’s older brother was born. Noel is also eligible for Wales through his grandmother. Buck and his family routinely return to England and the family are well immersed in English culture, even in Massachusetts.

“I feel connected (to England),” Buck said. “I have family over there I visit very frequently and my dad brings the culture in the house. Though I grew up in America, I still have parts of English culture.”

Buck was identified by English scouts this spring, who came to visit with him and his family during the summer. Although Buck was left out of the current USMNT senior squad, he had been part of the U.S. youth national teams recently. Buck was last involved with the U.S. youth national team via a U-19 camp in the summer of 2022 and wasn’t included in the U.S. squad at the U-20 World Cup this spring, though Buck is eligible for the next U-20 World Cup in 2025.

“It was great, a nice bit of support and confidence boost,” Buck said of England taking an interest in him. “It means a lot to me. To put in the effort and show I’m valued is an important thing, it really helps.”

Buck made waves last weekend by wearing a retro England kit to the stadium ahead of his final club game with New England before joining up with the England U-19 squad.

“I didn’t mean to throw off the U.S., it’s just that I was proud to be called into England,” Buck said. “England is a football nation, it’s a big honor to play for the national team. This is a great experience for me, it’s different. Change of pace, change of culture, change of people. I can use all of these experiences to grow as a player. Obviously I didn’t get called into the (U.S.) senior team. Maybe I should have, maybe I shouldn’t have. I don’t know. I’m just here trying to get better.”

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter recently said Buck is still very much in the picture for the U.S. long-term, though.

“He’s been great. He’s been really strong,” said Berhalter. “I have spoken to him. There has been interest from England, which I think is great. Great achievement, when you have a country like England looking at you.

“I’ve communicated with him, told him that we see him as a player that can compete to make the World Cup team in 2026, based on what he’s doing now.”

With England, Buck linked up with a group of players that boasts a wealth of midfield talent, most notably 17-year-old Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of England and Real Madrid sensation Jude Bellingham.

The younger Bellingham followed his brother’s career path by leaving boyhood club Birmingham City this summer, although instead of moving abroad — Jude honed his immense talent in the Bundesliga at Borussia Dortmund — Jobe joined English second-tier outfit Sunderland.

Like Buck, Bellingham is flexible and can play a conventional midfield role or further forward; the latter played up front in Sunderland’s 5-0 thrashing of Southampton on September 2. On his debut for England U-19 earlier this month, he was in a three man midfield for a 1-0 defeat by Germany.

If edging into the England U-19 team ahead of Bellingham proves difficult, Buck can try to supplant either Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood, who made his first Premier League appearance last season in a brief cameo against Aston Villa on the final day of the campaign, or Southampton’s Kamari Doyle, who also made one Premier League appearance last season and is adept at taking free kicks with either foot. He can play as a No. 6, No. 8 or behind a striker.

Bellingham, Hinshelwood, and Doyle started against Germany, but with three games in six days next month (England U-19 play Montenegro on October 10, Wales on October 13 and Austria on October 16), manager Simon Rusk may shuffle his midfield pack to give everyone minutes.

Buck is one of nine players capable of operating in central midfield, making it a well-stocked position for the team — other talents include Liverpool’s Bobby Clark and Newcastle’s Lewis Miley — but the boy with the Boston accent is likely to get a chance to show he can mix it.

Buck is calm and confident on the ball — qualities in demand in the England youth setup, as exemplified by the U-21s European Championship success in July.

Buck looked comfortable in the games, even though his introduction to training wasn’t easy.

“Well, I was severely jet-lagged with no sleep for the first session,” Buck said. “It was a bit rough, to be honest. But on Tuesday, without jet lag, I had a hold of the timing. It’s intense and competitive. Being able to integrate into this group, it’s been really good.”

Buck’s international future is still very much undecided. The United States made it clear he’s still in their plans and he is likely to receive more calls from them. Now integrated with England, he’ll firmly be on their radar, as well. Buck is eligible for the 2024 Summer Olympics, a U-23 national tournament, and may have a decision to make by then.

“I’m just taking it as it comes,” Buck said. “I just don’t know. Who knows what I will get called into, who knows what I won’t get called into. I’ll have to make these decisions when they come.”

[hooky]

Look the reality is he probably will not be good enough for England and so perhaps Wales could get a chance in his early to mid 20s to recruit him.

Until that time - who cares!

[kracken88]

Yes if we wait patiently under the English table hopefully we can scurry after the crumbs they discard, after all what's the other options? Waiting for our national league to produce one,the next ice age will probably be come sooner so we won't have to worry anyway.

[allezlesrouges]

Sounds like we are underneath the USA in terms of priorities as well. It might be that he's not up to standard for either and chooses us later in his career, but if he's a very good player I can't see him coming to us