I'd played some very good games, at Manchester United, at Tottenham Hotspur, but they'd lacked a goal. There've been times when I could have scored myself, but I've played a pass to a team-mate instead.
Soccer presented no challenge to me. Playing felt like breathing: I always had a magical connection to the ball. But it didn't feel like an adventure. Music was more of a challenge and, in the end, felt more interesting.
I think it will be good to be in Columbus and get pushed there and then go overseas. If there is a loan, it will be good to get comfortable and get games and get used to the pace of European soccer.
I first remember Wayne Rooney from a game at Old Trafford in 2002 when he came on as a late substitute for Everton and, in a brilliant 15-minute performance, skipped past me on a couple of occasions.
I was about five or six when I went to the little foundation camps. I got into the academy when I was nine, and I've gone through every age group since and into the first team.
Growing up I've been playing as an attacking midfielder, more central in the midfield. I wouldn't say if I'm most comfortable there but that's where I grew up playing.
I've scored many goals that I've liked, but I think the best memory I have is the one against Korea in the 2010 World Cup.
I once saw professional soccer up there in Seattle, the Sounders. I went and saw that. I'm not a big soccer fan, but watching a live game is unbelievable. And then I went to Italy and saw a soccer match; it's something everyone should do once. It'll blow your mind.
I think the first time I had to play at left-back was at Manchester United in the Europa League.
Germany is where I had to become a true professional. They play in big games when they are young. We could model some of our soccer system after what they do.
After high school, I earned a scholarship to play Division I soccer at a small school in North Carolina, but I didn't get much playing time, which forced me to determine who I was beyond the field, something I had previously never had to do.
The 2017 European Championship was my first major tournament for England, but everyone tells me the World Cup is a different level.
I started playing soccer when I was 6 years old and started lifting weights when I was 16, so it's not like I never exercised.
From a pretty early age, my mother realized that I was a little bit more gifted and talented than my own age group. So, she moved me over to play with the boys' travel soccer team when I was about 11 years old.
My childhood in Adelaide was filled with sport. I played soccer from morning until night.
When I was 6 years old, I played on a coed indoor team. We were called the Cosmos. And then, after that, when I was 7, I played on an all-girls club team.
It took me a little bit of time in the Premier League. I came back from an ACL and got one goal in I think six months at Crystal Palace. It wasn't great but I got to grips with the Premier League, started to understand what it's about because it's very different to the lower leagues.
As an early teen, soccer is the number one thing that you do - and I wasn't very good at that.
Swansea invested in me. They took a chance on me because I was a second-choice goalkeeper with not much experience when it comes to Premier League games.
Clearly, if you go abroad to a top club, it means one more step in your development.
A World Cup is always a bit of a watershed for teams, so there will be new faces and players given the chance to perform at a higher level.
I've been through everything in soccer.
Mostly as a No 10. When I was really young, I played as a striker, but I grew a lot when I was 15 or 16.
My background playing soccer gave me a natural advantage over many of the American-born players.
I played three seasons when I was in MLS before I went to Europe, and every year, I was able to be selected for the All-Star, which was an honor.
