Midfielder Bobby Convey says soccer in the USA faces a crucial period in its history following the national team's failure to advance at the World Cup.

"American soccer is at a turning point right now," Convey tells YA. "It is really critical that we get the right coach in and keep soccer in the states and the national team growing in the right direction."

US Soccer is maintaining a silence on the search for the next national team coach, with Jurgen Klinsmann still understood to be the preferred choice, although other candidates have been sounded out.

Convey, who is set to make his Premiership debut with Reading at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, remains pleased with the overall experience in Germany, where he made one start and two substitute appearances for the US.

"I think playing in my first World Cup was a great achievement in my career so far," he said. "[It was] something that I have dreamed about since I started playing soccer. I was happy to get the experience, but of course it was very disappointing because we didn't do very well."

But despite the disappointment of a first round exit, the 23-year old remains confident there are brighter skies ahead for the USA.

"Just because we had a little setback in the World Cup doesn't mean that we don't have a lot of good young players and can follow in the footsteps of guys that have shown the way for many years."

[note]Yanks Abroad's Aaron Gidding contributed to this report[/note]