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ESPN staff 7y

Dom Dwyer hopes to 'pay back some love' after first U.S. call-up

Dom Dwyer wants to repay the United States for the opportunities the country has given him after earning his first call-up to Bruce Arena's national team squad ahead of the Gold Cup.

Dwyer was born and raised in England but moved to the U.S. in 2009 to play in college, and has had his eye on the national team for years.

The 26-year-old has impressed in Major League Soccer with Sporting Kansas City over the last three seasons with 57 regular season goals -- the fourth-most of any player during that time -- and with five goals in 2017 so far he looks likely to extend that to four this campaign.

Finally eligible for the U.S. after gaining his citizenship in March, the forward hopes to make his mark at the international level too.

"It's brilliant," Dwyer saidĀ of his call-up. "It's something I've really worked hard for, and it's really nice to actually be here now and be around the guys.

"I think it became a reality maybe three or four years ago that this could happen. It's something that I started to work really hard for since then. I'm delighted to be here, and I really hope I can give back to the country that's given me a lot.

"I think that's the beautiful thing about the U.S. They're very welcoming to all, and it's an opportunity for me. My wife is American, my son is American, I've grown a lot of my life here as well and I'm delighted to have this opportunity. I hope the nation can welcome me as well and that I can pay back some love.

"There's a lot of excitement. I bring my passion and I really just want to go for it. I hope I can bring some goals to the side and help them succeed. Right now the goal is to win the tournament, and that's what we're really focused on."

Dwyer is married to Sydney Leroux, a World Cup-winning forward with the U.S. women's national team. Leroux was born in Canada and followed a similar path to be eligible to play for the U.S., and Dwyer said his wife's support has helped him reach this point.

"She's been there and done it all," he said. "Even though it's a little different, it's still the same kind of thing. She's got good words of advice and she's experienced a lot."

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