Like most of us, the World Cup will be compulsive viewing for Town loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer and he will undoubtedly be contemplating about what might have been.
Although England made enquiries about his availability, Carter-Vickers represents the US through his Louisiana-born father Howard Carter, who played basketball for the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, as well as for clubs in France and Crete.
He has won two senior caps so far but his hopes of representing America in the World Cup in Russia were dashed when they lost 2-1 to Trinidad & Tobago in October last year, thus ending a run of participating in seven successive World Cups.
Carter-Vickers said: "It’s a massive disappointment that the US team didn’t qualify. I wasn’t there for the game when they didn’t qualify and when I checked on the result it was a real blow.
"Everyone who had a part to play in US soccer was down about it and it’s something we need to learn from going forward. We have to make sure it doesn’t happen next time.
"My target is to be part of the US team that bids to qualify for the next World Cup and to be in the squad when they do. I’ll be 24 then and it’s something I want to be a part of, something I’m working towards.
"There are three friendlies coming up — one in May against Bolivia and then two in June against the Republic of Ireland and France. I don’t know yet whether or not I will be called up but hopefully I am because it is all useful experience.
"France will be a big challenge with the players they have available to them. Their whole squad is world class and the players are all with the top clubs.
"It will be a good test and a marker to see where we both — the USA and me — are at right now.
"I’m looking forward to going on holiday and getting a bit of sun. It will be relaxing but I’ll be looking forward to getting back and preparing for next season.”
Tottenham loanee Carter-Vickers is every bit as interested in who will be replacing the departed Mick McCarthy in the manager’s seat at Ipswich.
He added: "To be honest none of the players know what is going to happen. We see who is being linked with the job and we chat away in the dressing room, but we haven’t a clue about who will be getting the job.
"There’s always a bit of banter flying around but we genuinely know nothing. We’re completely in the dark and we’re wondering along with everyone else who it is going to be.”
He is enjoying working with stand-in boss Bryan Klug, someone he first encountered at Tottenham when he was working there, and young coaches Gerard Nash and Chris Hogg, as Town wait to complete the season with a trip to Reading on Saturday and Middlesbrough’s visit to Portman Road on May 6th when the Championship campaign concludes.
"When I was about 14 Bryan was the U16s coach at Tottenham. I think I played a few games — not many, maybe a handful — for him back then.
"Bryan, Gerard and Chris are all good coaches and the sessions they have been putting on have been just as good as always.
"I still feel that as a squad Ipswich are moving forward. They are a good bunch of boys and everyone is really focused.
"It’s exciting times for Tottenham with the new ground taking shape for next season and from what I’ve seen it is going to be fantastic.
"I look up to the likes of Jan Vertonghen at Tottenham because he is an excellent defender but I watch a lot of football and whoever is playing, whether they’re the best or not, there are always bits of their game that you can learn from.
"I love the physical side of the game and it kind of comes naturally to me. My dad is quite big and the rest of my family are quite physically strong.
"We have done a lot at Tottenham on strengthening and condition work, so that has helped as well. If I come up against a striker who fancies a bit of hustle and bustle I’m always up for it.”