Hoppe is well ‘up for the challenge’ at his new club
MATTHEW Hoppe says his move to Middlesbrough made sense for many reasons with his goals to make it to the Premier League and represent the USA at the World Cup.
After joining Boro from RCD Mallorca this summer, the 21-year-old striker is full of exuberance and excitement, firmly believing both of those aspirations are possible within the next 12 months.
Hoppe is on the radar of USA national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, having been capped six times and helping his country to Gold Cup victory last year.
However, after a frustrating spell in Spain last term, Hoppe lost his place in the national team as his club appearances were few and far between.
While boss Chris Wilder has described Hoppe as a developmental signing for Boro, there are high hopes internally about his prospects after an exciting breakthrough at Schalke before his move to La Liga, with a belief he should be physically better suited to English football than the
SIGNING EXCITED BY BORO’S VISION
Spanish game and with Wilder’s preference to rotate his strikers Hoppe should have plenty of opportunities to impress, providing he earns it, starting on the training pitches.
Speaking in his first interview
since joining the club, Hoppe certainly sounded determined to make a big impact.
He said: “I’m really happy to be here. This is a beautiful stadium and I’m really excited to start playing here and to see all the fans.
“Football is full of ups and downs and I’m here to show what I’m
capable of and I’m ready to give 100%.
“When I looked at it, everything made sense – the system, the team’s goals, their aspirations, my own aspirations.
“The club has put a lot of faith in me and I have a lot to prove.
“I’m up for the challenge and I’m ready to go. I messaged Zack (Steffen – his international team-mate) when the talks were going on and he told me to come and told me some good things about the club.
“So I’m excited to be with him and looking forward to incorporating myself into the rest of the team.”
Hoppe added: “It’s a goal of mine to represent my club and country and the top level and I think if things go well in the next year then I should be able to do that.
“The club has a plan and we’re doing everything we can, it looks like, to push to get to the Premier League - so we just have to keep believing and fight until the end.”
The Californian striker watched on from the stands on Wednesday evening as a youthful Boro side lost 1-0 to Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.
He will now hope to impress in training in the next few days to earn a debut on Sunday, when Boro host Sheffield United at the Riverside in the Championship.
Asked what he hopes to bring to the side if given an opportunity, Hoppe said: “I think my best quality is creating space for myself and others.
“Sometimes in games you’re not always able to get the service but I believe I’m capable of creating things for myself and others also – kind of making something out of nothing. I like to get forward and fight until the end.
“I just do whatever I can to help the team win.”
This is a beautiful stadium and I’m really excited to start playing here and to see all the
fans
Matthew Hoppe