Eryk Williamson has received a call up to the US Men's National Team for January friendlies against Serbia and Colombia. The 25-year-old Virginia native has cemented himself as one of the club's most talented playes in the center of the park, chipping in with 5 assists in the 2022 season, after returning from a serious knee injury.
Williamson will play a key role for the Timbers in the upcoming 2023 campaign, after Gio Savarese's men failed to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2022. While he showed flashes of brilliance in midfield, Williamson's season ended on a sour note. The US international played less than 20 minutes of soccer in the final two games of the season as the team pushed for the postseason - prompting many to speculate his future at Providence Park.
However, it appears Williamson will remain in green and gold for the foreseeable future as any rumors regarding a potential exit this winter were swiftly shut down by noteworthy journalists in the USA. That will be great news for the Timbers, who likely see Williamson as a key cog in their efforts to regain relevancy in the Wester Conference.
Back on the pitch, the Timbers have begun their preseason training regiments. First, the Cascadia club are in Arizona to train, and square off with Sporting KC in a friendly game. After leaving Arizona, the Timbers will make the trek down to Souther California to take part in the 2023 Coachella Valley Invitational preseason tournament. There they will play preaseason friendlies against LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, and NYCFC before returning home for the start of the regular season.
You can view the whole USMNT January camp roster here.