Former Arsenal Academy Defender Set For Trial
- Updated: February 20, 2012
Former Arsenal F.C. Academy player Tom Cruise is set to join the New England Revolution for a two week trial, according to a report on Sky Sports. Cruise, a defender, will join the Revolution in Arizona for the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup.
Cruise joined Arsenal in 2007, winning the FA Youth Cup with the club in 2008-2009, but was released as a free agent in June of 2011. The 20 year-old, who can play center back, left back and left midfield, made one first team appearance for Arsenal, starting a December 9, 2009 Champions League match against Olympiacos after Arsenal had already clinched advancement to the next round. Arsenal lost that game 1-0.
Cruise spent the 2010-2011 season on loan to Football League 1 – England’s third division – side Carlisle United. He has been a part of the England U-16, U-17 and U-19 teams and participated in the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. He recently trialed with Italian Serie B team Sampdoria in December.
The FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup features the MLS Cup Champions Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake. The Revs kickoff the tournament on Wednesday, February 22nd, at 8PM EST, against the Galaxy.
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Mat
February 20, 2012 at 10:30 am
Awesome, we need the depth and he’s still young (unlike the pre-Heaps love for older players). I hope Cruise does well and we end up signing him. Could he be a better option than Darrius Barnes? I sure hope so.
Chris B
February 20, 2012 at 12:02 pm
I love the way Heaps does trials and the players he’s bringing in! Definite improvements!
Jim
February 21, 2012 at 9:28 am
It is great to see Heaps bringing in young kids to trial. This kid surely can provide some depth at the least. He must have good fundamentals, its hard to see an ex Arsenal Academy player not being able to position himself and do other basic things that the revs D lacked last year. I wonder what his salary would be if he did sign? like 200k?