Dom Dwyer was born in England, is a huge Liverpool fan and dreams of one day representing the Anfield giants in the Premier League.
And although Dwyer is a huge noise in the MLS, many supporters who follow the Merseyside giants might never have heard of him.
Yet it is not beyond comprehension that one day he may well fulfil his dream to run out in front of the Kop to play for his boyhood idols.
But before any such dreams are realised, the full USA striker (he is now a US citizen, and scored on his international debut in a 2-1 friendly win over Ghana) is keen to continue to impress for his club side, Orlando City, who he joined in a record deal from Sporting Kansas City. Orlando are next in action when they host Colombus Crew on October 15.
It’s all a far cry from the days Dwyer played non-league football for Staines Town and King’s Lynn (after a spell at Norwich and a run of ankle injuries) before moving across the pond in 2009.
And the fortune he has enjoyed along his journey isn’t lost on the goal-getter, who is married to, and has a child with, Sydney Leroux, a professional player and Olympic gold medallist.
He told the Daily Mail: “The dream was always to play in the Premier League and that would be a situation that would be difficult to turn down if it were to come. Right now I’m focusing on things here and we’ll have to see what the future holds. I have one more year left on my contract and we’ll see from there. You never know in football.
“It’s all been so mad, that’s the best way to put it, but I feel so lucky to be in this position. It comes with a bit of pressure and the eyes are obviously on you a fair bit after joining a new club, but it’s all been very exciting. It’s come from working hard but it’s crazy how it’s all happened.
“I’ve been working for so many years and there was a point where I realised playing for the States was something which offered a very real opportunity to me. It would be a dream for so many people and it was for me, too.
“When I left Norwich I didn’t really know what would happen. There was a lot of uncertainty but there are so many kids in England who go through the same thing when they are released. People slip through and I didn’t want to be one of those, I wanted to be the one who made something of themselves.
“I played in non-League and that gave me a very humble beginning, but it’s something to work forward from. I worked a lot with young children in schools, did some coaching and a few other things while I was in non-League, working with the future, but I was trying to find a way through.”
Despite his various setbacks, Dwyer says he always thought he would make it in football, juts not necessarily in America. He added: “The plan was always to do that in England, but I’m here, playing and it’s been amazing. I feel so lucky, but now’s the time to push on and show what I can really do.”
