Wisconsin Soccer Central

Andrija Novakovich (Muskego) wasn't named to the U.S. roster for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which starts later this month in New Zealand.

It wasn't that American coach Tab Ramos didn't want to select the forward, who is wrapping up an impressive first season in England as a member of the Reading FC Academy. Rather, Ramos wasn't allowed to pick Novakovich for the squad.

Reading declined to release the 18-year-old striker, who has 12 goals in 29 appearances for the club's Under-18 and Under-21 teams heading into Monday's Under-21 season finale. Clubs are not required to release players for FIFA youth tournaments, unlike the policy for senior competitions.

Novakovich had three goals in five appearances for the U.S. Under-20 team in 2014, and the 6-foot-3 forward likely would have been in contention for a starting spot for the Americans at the Under-20 World Cup.

However, Ramos expressed no complaints with Reading's decision during a conference call after announcing the U.S. roster Thursday and indicated Novakovich figures to have a larger role with the Championship club next season – he made two brief substitute appearances for the first team this spring.

"Reading has done a great job with us over the years and in working with national teams and they’re very supportive of U.S. Soccer and our players coming up," Ramos said. "An example is with Bobby Convey in the past and Danny Williams recently, so they do release their players.

"They just strongly felt that with Andrija this has been a very difficult year for him with the physicality of the Championship and being on their team. They consider him a very important part of next year’s group and their preseason which starts in June, and they felt like at this point he’s going to need the rest. I can't argue with that. As the U-20 MNT head coach, above and beyond anything else, obviously results are very important, but also what’s important is that we advance players to our first team. So if that's what's best for Andrija at this point and that's what everybody feels is best for him then I support that as well and hopefully we have Andrija ready, whether it’s for the Olympics or the senior team, down the road."

CONCACAF qualifying for the 2016 men's Olympics, which features Under-23 teams, is from Oct. 1 to 13 in the U.S. There is a FIFA match-date window from Oct. 5-13.

Meanwhile, Ramos and the Americans open Group A play in the Under-20 World Cup on May 29 against Myanmar, and also play New Zealand on June 2 and Ukraine on June 5. And Novakovich will be cheering them on, he tweeted Sunday: