Alan Carleton on MLS debut: "I've been working hard for this"

"I've been working hard for this. It felt good when I got my name called."

Alan Carleton was a surprise name on Nashville SC's team sheet this weekend. The 20-year-old midfielder plays for Huntsville City FC in MLS NEXT Pro, where he has starred with four goals and four assists from 11 matches, the second-most goal contributions among all attacking midfielders. With Jacob Shaffelburg on international duty and Eddi Tagseth suspended, Nashville opted to bring Carleton in on a short-term loan from their MLS NEXT Pro affiliate.

Nashville SC call up Huntsville midfielder Alan Carleton against DC United

Carleton is Nashville’s third short-term call up from their MLS NEXT Pro affiliate this season

SixOneFive SoccerBen Wright

Unlike other MLS clubs, Nashville don't publicize short-term call-ups from their MLS NEXT Pro affiliate beforehand. Carleton's inclusion in the match-day roster was a unexpected, although in no way undeserved.

"A lot of credit goes to Alan," Nashville SC head coach BJ Callaghan said post-match. "He's come up into our training environment for the last couple of weeks. A player who's very comfortable on the ball in-between the lines. A young player who wants the ball. But what we're most proud of him tonight is that he came in understanding what the game needed."

"He was a key contributor to keeping the ball, but the work that he was doing on the weak side defensively... just a really really mature debut for him," Callaghan added. "[He had the] understanding and selflessness that it wasn't about him. This is what's needed to be done for the next fifteen to twenty minutes, and he went and did the job. Great debut for him."

A winding path to MLS

For Carleton, while stepping on an MLS pitch for the first time was the culmination of years of hard work, he tried not to think too much about the specifics.

"[The coaches] were saying I've been working hard and doing well, and that I earned my spot, but just go out, just work hard, just do my best and just play free," he smiled after the game. "Obviously it's just another game. Don't think about anything too much. Just go out there and play like it's just another day."

Carleton was a standout in the Atlanta United academy. The younger brother of Andrew Carleton, the first-ever homegrown signing for the Five Stripes, he made 56 appearances for their reserve teams in three seasons, logging three goals and three assists and looking on track to sign a contract with the first team. His departure this winter was a surprise, and the Nashville SC organization quickly snapped him up.

Huntsville City's crucial role in development

With Huntsville, Carleton has continued to show MLS potential. A key player for one of the best attacking sides in the MLS NEXT Pro, his continued development has caught the eye of the first team.

"When Huntsville brought me over, they were looking forward to building a good squad, looking to make a deep run in the playoffs this year. I think we've been doing really well," he said ."Maybe a little unlucky to not have as many wins as we do with Huntsville, but I think the team's been very well and I love playing with the guys. They're all great."

For Carleton, who stands at 5'8" tall and is listed at just 117 pounds, the technical style in Huntsville that mirrors Nashville's approach has been vital.

"I think my best attribute would probably just be my technical ability. Obviously you can see by my frame, I didn't get too blessed physically or with speed or anything like that," he grinned. "I had to work pretty hard to get good. First touch and kind of knowing where to go before you get the ball because the game plays so fast as you get up to the higher levels."

What's next?

According to league rules, MLS clubs can call up a player four times in a season for short-term loans, capped at four days long each. Those players are only able to be in four total match-day rosters, and can only appear in two MLS matches, before they'd require a first-team contract. While there's certainly no guarantee that Carleton will ever sign with Nashville, becoming the first Huntsville player to ever represent the first team in an MLS match at the very least indicates that he's on the radar.

Carleton says he's not focusing on that. He's just keeping his head down and continuing the work that got him to this point.

"I just gotta just keep working hard, going to practice every day and being the best player I can be," he said. "And then keep winning games with Huntsville. Obviously we're in a good spot right now to make the playoffs and see if we can make a deep run there and see what happens."

"The goal is just to keep pushing and hopefully keep getting more minutes for Nashville as the season goes on... Maybe I'll play in Nashville more, maybe I don't, but just working as hard as I can."