Portland's Nagbe flattered by interest from U.S. national team

Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe has enjoyed a stellar 2015 season and, having finally acquired U.S. citizenship, he has attracted interest from the U.S. national team, too.

The team's manager, Jurgen Klinsmann, apparently told Portland boss Caleb Porter he "likes" Nagbe and is "very interested in bringing him in," a message Porter eventually relayed to his prized 25-year-old midfielder.

"He (Porter) tries not to tell me that stuff," Nagbe told reporters. "He just wants me to go out there and play, and he keeps telling me that if I keep doing what I'm doing and everything else will happen. So I'm just going to focus on that. But it was good to hear.

"Being able to represent your country in any sport, no matter what it is, is an amazing feeling, so hopefully it comes up."

Nagbe was born in Liberia, but left as a baby and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. He would be eligible for selection in the United States' upcoming World Cup qualifiers against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago in November.