Brad Evans, Jeff Parke Called Into U.S. National Team Camp

UPDATE: Jeff Parke joins Brad Evans in reporting to the United States National Team January Camp. They both have potential to play aginst Venezuela or Panama. This is Parke's first call to the team. Evans has four caps already. They replace Omar Gonzalez, pursuing loan opportunity, and George John, looking at international transfer.

* * *

What started as a rumor on the ECS message board can now be confirmed: Brad Evans has been called into the United States national team camp as they prepare for games against Venezuela and Panama later this month. The source was of the confidential variety, but I can assure you that it's highly reliable and is someone who is in position to know.

It's not clear who, if anyone, Evans would replace and what position Jurgen Klinsmann has in mind. Evans was most recently called up to national team duty in 2009 when he made an appearance in the CONCACAF Gold Cup at right back. Evans has played almost exclusively in the midfield as a pro, though, and would seem a more likely candidate to play more of a Kyle Beckerman-style role as a deep-lying central midfielder. Evans also played for the U.S. at the U-20 World Cup in 2005.

The move can be seen as nothing other than a positive for Evans and the Sounders, whose players have missed out on national team call-ups lately.

Brad Evans, Jeff Parke Called In by USA

RENTON, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC announced today that the U.S. National Team has called in midfielder Brad Evans and defender Jeff Parke for a training camp that will run through January 26 in the United States and Panama.

The camp began January 3 in Phoenix and moves to the U.S. Soccer National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. from January 13-20. The U.S. will host Venezuela on January 21 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. On January 25 the U.S. faces Panama in Panama City.

Evans, 26, has four international caps. He was last called in by the USMNT for the February 2010 friendly with El Salvador, playing the full 90 minutes at right fullback. His first three appearances came during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Evans is a native of Phoenix.

Now entering his sixth MLS season, Evans scored five goals and added five assists for the Sounders FC in 2011. He appeared in 20 MLS regular season matches, starting 17.

This will be Parke's first national team call-in. The 29-year-old center back is a veteran of seven MLS seasons. Parke was Seattle's 2011 Defender of the Year and started 28 league matches (38 in all competitions), scoring one goal.