Player profile

Brazil-born Feilhaber brings a touch of invention to the US midfield. His progress has been hampered by knee injuries but – aside from a six-week lay-off with an ankle problem in February – he returned to form and fitness for Danish club Aarhus this season, although it was not enough to help them avoid relegation.

Once viewed as a central midfielder, he is now used wide on the left by his club and, occasionally, for his country. He played in all five games at the Confederations Cup last summer, starting twice.

He only made 10 league appearances in each of his previous two seasons, for Aarhus in 2008-09 and for Derby the previous year, when he only started once as they were relegated from the Premier League.

He first came to Europe in July 2005 after catching the eye of Hamburg’s scouts while representing USA at the 2005 World Youth Championship.

Feilhaber was born in Rio de Janeiro, where his grandfather – an Austrian Jew – had fled in 1938.

Feilhaber moved to California as a six-year-old and turned down the chance to play for Austria in 2006.

By then, he had already been called up to the US squad but he had to wait until March 2007 to make his debut. Three months later, he scored a sumptuous volley to win the Gold Cup final against Mexico.