FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Jay Heaps understands the double-edged sword of national team duty.
On one hand, coaches would love to fill their rosters with national-team caliber players who are in form and in demand at the international level. On the other hand, national-team call-ups often pull players away from their club duties in MLS, as Je-Vaughn Watson will be pulled away from the New England Revolution in the coming weeks as he joins Jamaica for Copa America Centenario.
“It hurts. You don’t want to have all your players gone,” Heaps said. “But then again, when it’s the national team and they’re being called away because of what they’re doing on the field, you tip your hat and you wish them the best of luck.