The prospect of marking David Villa, even in a training scrimmage, would give most 16-year old soccer players sleepless nights.
However, Academy defender James Sands doesnāt seem to be your average 16-year old.
The New Yorker is making his own piece of history on this preseason training camp in Jacksonville, becoming the first NYCFC Academy product to train with the first-team.
A mature, forward-thinking defender, Sands is part of the U.S Soccer Youth Residency program in Bradenton along with his twin brother Will who is also in NYCFCās Academy structure.
Now facing off against top class talent every day for two weeks in Florida, heās settling to the task and learning from some of the best on this steep learning curve.
Sands told NYCFC.com: āThereās a lot of great players here, so the experience means a lot to me. The coaches have helped me a lot.
āAll these guys Iāve watched on TV ā getting the experience to play with them is really special.ā
Heās certainly impressed the Head Coach in the first few days in Jacksonville.
Patrick Vieira describes Sands as a āspecial talentā and praised his footballing intelligence which has been on display throughout the opening four days of the camp.
Vieira said: āWe wanted to give him an experience because heās been doing really well in the academy. We wanted to see him to see how he would cope with the intensity and the level of tactical, mental and physical demand. Iāve been really impressed with him ā heās really calm, composed and good on the ball. Heās really smart as a footballer.
āI think we have a special talent in our football club.ā
James was an important member of the U.S team who won the Nike International Friendlies title in December, defeating Brazil, Portugal and Turkey on the way to the crown.
In a short career, heās already enjoyed a few notable highlights but the moment he received the call to join NYCFC on preseason surely ranks up there with the best.
Sands remembers: āMy dad told me over the phone ā he was excited. He texted me telling me to call him and then when he told me I was a little nervous at first because thereās a lot of great players but then I started realizing that itās actually happening, so I had to settle into it.
āEveryone has been helping me out ā the coaches, the players, they give me little bits of advice as I go and Iāve already learned a lot. I want to learn as much and get the experience so that when Iām older I can be back playing with them regularly.ā
Khiry Shelton has also been excited by what heās seen of James so far in Florida.
The 23-year old believes that Sands is another example of the increasing quality in U.S soccer.
Khiry reflected: āJames is a fantastic player ā Iāve been watching him and I played on the same team as him in training just now and I think it speaks wonders. It shows soccer in America is growing and Iām proud to have him out here with us.ā