NASHVILLE – Nursing a hamstring injury, Jozy Altidore watched as his US national team teammates swept Germany and the Netherlands in two friendlies earlier this month.
Now healthy and back in the national team lineup, he's ready to keep that momentum going as the Stars & Stripes prepare for the Gold Cup in Friday's warm-up against Guatemala in Nashville (6:30 pm ET; FOX Sports 1, UniMás, Univision Deportes).
The Music City has been kind to the Toronto FC striker before. In a World Cup qualifier in 2009 against Trinidad & Tobago, the then-19-year-old Altidore scored all three goals in the USA's 3-0 win, becoming the youngest player in history to score a hat trick for the men's national team.
"I was so young then," Altidore said ahead of the team's Tuesday training session. "It was an exciting time. In a lot of ways, it was a turning point for the program."
Indeed, the win in Nashville led to a sparkling run for the Americans in 2009 and 2010 – with a shocking run to the final of the Confederations Cup and a Round-of-16 appearance in the World Cup.
He's been a centerpiece of the US attack ever since, along with Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley, now his teammate at TFC. Altidore says teaming up with his long-time friend Bradley in Toronto should pay dividends on the international stage, just as it does in MLS.
"It definitely can't hurt. It's going well with Michael [in Toronto]. I've gotten better just training with him everyday," he said. "Aside from the injury, I've loved being back home. I love the challenge of competing where a lot comes through [me]."
With USMNT players spread throughout the MLS and Europe, it's a rarity for two members to come from the same club. That presents a unique challenge for the US, as opposed to Europe's top teams, which often have handfuls of players from the same clubs in the national side.
Now the USMNT boasts arguably two of the best American players of their generation playing and training together all the time. Altidore returning to his top form in the Gold Cup would be a welcome sight for Jurgen Klinsmann's side, keeping the momentum alive from the successful trip to Europe, which came after a dismal run through the winter.
And Altidore's return will come in a place where he's had historic success.
"I've always had a good time here, and I'm looking forward to the game Friday," he said. "It should be a great atmosphere."
