Still recharging after a roller coaster summer with the US National Team, Hamburg midfielder Benny Feilhaber says he's about ready to join preseason camp and display to skeptical coach Huub Stevens that he can translate his international prowess into Bundesliga success.

The UCLA product seemed for months to be headed out of town on a loan, with either France or the Netherlands as destination, but the AOL hierarchy have been overly reluctant to let him leave. An HSV executive told ASD last month that Feilhaber was well thought of at the club, but January appointee Stevens felt unfamiliar with the player.

After his sterling Gold Cup show that included a stunning winner against final foe Mexico, Hamburg became unwilling to even discuss a loan out unless some strict caveats were agreed to, including a fee for the season and the lack of possibility for purchase. In addition to the CONCACAF crown, the 22-year old Rio native was able to thrill his folks - and apparently HSV management - with a pair of feisty Copa America outings.

"It was great for me to be able to play in those games in Copa America," Feilhaber, whose mother is Brazilian, told American Soccer Daily. "Both my parents were very proud to see me playing against such top players and teams."