NEWPORT County AFC winger Keanu Marsh-Brown has reportedly caught the eye of several Major League Soccer clubs thanks to his performances for Guyana in the Gold Cup.
The 26-year-old, who signed a two-year deal with County last summer, struggled to nail down a regular starting spot during his first season at Rodney Parade.
Marsh-Brown, whose progress was halted by a series of niggling injuries, made 21 appearances in the 2018-2019 campaign and scored just one goal - at Yeovil Town in March (below).
But the former Forest Green Rovers man has impressed for Guyana in their first appearance at the Gold Cup this month.
The tournament is being played in the USA and Marsh-Brown started two of Guyana’s three matches.
He played for 73 minutes in the 4-0 defeat to the hosts at Allianz Field in Minnesota on June 19 and came off the bench for the final 24 minutes of the 4-2 defeat to Panama at Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday.
And the Exiles forward played the full 90 minutes as Guyana earned a 1-1 draw against Trinidad & Tobago in their final group stage match at Sporting Park in Kansas on Wednesday night.
Neil Danns opened the scoring for Guyana in the 54th minute before Tobago nicked an equaliser in 80th minute thanks to Kevin Molino.
The draw saw the Golden Jaguars claim third spot in Group D.
USA topped the group as they remained unbeaten with a 1-0 win over Panama with both sides progressing to the knock-out stages of the tournament.
But, despite Guyana’s early exit from the tournament and Marsh-Brown’s difficult first season with County, up to six MLS clubs are said to be chasing his signature.
They include Wayne Rooney’s club DC United, as well as Chicago Fire, who have German veteran Bastian Schweinsteiger in their ranks, Portland Timbers, Sporting KC and Minnesota United, who are managed by former Everton player Adrian Heath.
Before County’s FA Cup clash with Manchester City earlier this year, Marsh-Brown revealed that he turned down a move to the current Premier League champions earlier in his career.
He was a promising teenager at Fulham when he came to the attention of City’s scouts in January 2011 and contact was made with the Cottagers regarding his availability.
But, with Fulham an established top-10 Premier League club at the time with a reputation of bringing through players from their academy, the Londoner instead committed to the capital club.
“Yeah it’s true,” Marsh-Brown told mancity.com. “I found out one morning that City and Spurs had made enquiries while I was at Fulham and they came in around January, but instead I ended up signing a new three-year deal with Fulham.
“I was 18 at the time and it seemed the right decision but seeing how things have gone at City ever since, obviously if I had the chance again, I would have definitely moved north!”
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