Hamburg midfielder Benny Feilhaber is happy with his performance level during the club's first team winter camp in Spain, and says he hopes to compete for a place in the squad next season.

The former UCLA Bruin worked 50 strong minutes over two substitute appearances in friendlies against VfL Bochum and Swiss champs Basel, receiving high marks from both HSV staff and the media.

With the German federation DFB set to lift roster restrictions for non-European Union players, Feilhaber believes he can use the La Manga experience as a springboard to Thomas Doll's senior side.

"It was nice getting brought to the camp in Spain, and I think it went really well," Feilhaber told YA. "I came in as a sub both games and thought I played real well the second game, so I'm feeling good about my performance."

"Right now, the situation is the same as before, where I can't play unless one of the four non-EU players get traded by the Jan 31st deadline."

"But now I know that I will be eligible to play after summer, so it gives me some extra incentive to work hard to earn a spot on the team."

Feilhaber is coming off the personal dream year that was 2005; he starred with the US Under-20 National Team at the World Youth Championships to come out of relative obscurity in June, signed with Hamburg after a small July bidding war and was called into senior National Team camp by Bruce Arena in November.