'I didn't understand tactics!' - USMNT No.1 Matt Turner reveals surprise age he started playing soccer & names his goalkeeping hero

The shot stopper has come a long way since he started playing at college level for the Fairfield Stags, eventually going on to play for local side Jersey Express and then making his way to MLS with New England Revolution. Arsenal soon snapped him up and he spent a year in north London before joining Forest in the summer.

The 29-year-old was a latecomer to the United States national team, too, making his career in 2021 but he has blossomed into a star, establishing himself as the first choice goalkeeper for his country.

But Turner admits that he was late to the game and chose to become a goalkeeper because he did not understand football tactics and due to his experience in other sports.

"When I was 16 after the World Cup in 2010 that's when I really fell in love with the sport," he told BBC Sport. "I feel like that's obviously really late, to be 16 and just really starting. At that point I didn't understand tactics, I didn't understand technique really, so the only way I was able to be involved was as a goalkeeper.

"I played baseball, basketball and American football, those were my main three sports growing up. A lot of the attributes you need to be successful in those sports, you kind of have to have as a goalkeeper as well."

Turner had some good examples to follow, as he highlighted fellow New Jersey native and former Manchester United and Everton star Tim Howard as his role model.

"The first goalkeeper I really watched very closely was Tim Howard," he said. "He's someone with a multi-sport background as well and he's also from New Jersey, which was another piece that I really felt like I could align. Just because somebody said I couldn't do it, I didn't want to then stop doing it, I loved playing."

After starting in goal for Forest's clash against Luton on Saturday, Turner will focus his attentions on next week's match against Liverpool.