JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Christian Pulisic has a "fantastic" future ahead of him, but Borussia Dortmund and the U.S. national team are right to bring the 17-year-old along methodically, said U.S. defender Geoff Cameron on Sunday.
Pulisic is in the American squad that is preparing for Tuesday's World Cup qualifying match in Jacksonville, Florida against Trinidad and Tobago. Last week, the Pennsylvania native became the youngest American man to score in a qualifier, knocking home two goals off the bench in a 6-0 rout of tiny St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
That performance left U.S. fans clamoring for more. So far all seven of Pulisic's international appearances have been as a substitute.
Yet U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann continues to preach patience with Pulisic, who turns 18 later this month. And with a spot in the final "Hexagonal" round of CONCACAF qualifying not yet secured, Klinsmann hinted strongly that the youngster is unlikely to start against T&T, either.
That's how it goes, according to Cameron.
"You can see the talent that he has, but it's got to be a slow process," Cameron told reporters before the U.S. trained at EverBank Field.
"He's learning that in Dortmund, where he's fighting for a spot to get in the 18 with a lot of good players in front of him. It's the same here."
Cameron, 30, and the other national team mainstays got to know Pulisic well this summer, as he was included in on Klinsmann's squad for the Copa America Centenario. He barely featured as the Yanks finished fourth on home soil, but he impressed on and off the field nonetheless. In a recent interview with ESPN, U.S. assistant Tab Ramos said that age was the only reason Pulisic didn't see the field more during the tournament.
"It wasn't because he couldn't play," said Ramos, who doubles as the U.S. U20 national team coach. "He could've started every game."
He showed maturity beyond his years in the dressing room, too.
"He's growing as a player, growing as an individual, growing into an adult," Cameron said. "When you live in Europe and you have that experience and you're living on your own for a long time, it changes you as a person. You're surviving on your own and it makes you grow up a little bit faster."
Cameron said he and fellow veteran Alejandro Bedoya have made an effort to mentor Pulisic since he debuted with the senior squad last March.
"We're trying to get him involved with the older guys and get him to feel more comfortable," Cameron said.
There was even a rumor that Stoke City, Cameron's English Premier League club, offered €20 million for Pulisic before Europe's transfer window closed last week. Pulisic became the youngest player to score two Bundesliga goals last season, when he made nine league appearances (four starts) after being promoted from the reserves in January.
"I told him we don't want him at Stoke," Cameron deadpanned, eliciting laughter from media members. "No, he's a great kid. I'm happy he's here. He's only going to get better and better.
"As long as he keeps his head down and stays focused and keeps working hard, the way he's been doing his whole career, he's going to be fantastic."