Colorado Rapids manager Robin Fraser has opted to use Jonathan Lewis primarily off the bench this season, but that's hardly indictment on where the former US national team defender sees the winger's ceiling.
In fact, with the expectation that the USMNT will hold a camp for domestic-based players combined with an accompanying friendly or two in October, Fraser sees plenty of reason why Lewis would be an attractive call-up for US manager Gregg Berhalter.
"His pace is lightning, he's very, very quick and what he's turning into is a really good finisher in some pretty difficult situations," Fraser said during a conference call on Tuesday. "If you're talking about what his potential value to the national team is, I think anyone who has a winger who can beat people 1-on-1, and who can run in behind and finish, he offers a skillset that most people would be interested in."
Lewis has started only once in 2020 but he has played in all eight of the Rapids' regular-season matches, scoring three goals over 221 minutes, or 1.22 per 90 minutes. On the international level, Lewis has six career U.S. appearances with a pair of assists.
The Rapids continue their season looking for their first victory since March when they host the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night (9 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada).
