Two national youth representatives attending universities in the United States will get a jump-start to professional football following their selection in yesterday's 2011 Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft.

Both forward Amani Walker and midfielder/ forward Yannick Salmon were chosen by the Chicago Fire.

Walker was born in the United States, but played for Jamaica's Under-20s in two practice games prior to that team's participation in the CONCACAF final round of Youth World Cup qualifiers in early 2009. The 21-year-old, from the University of California-Irvine (UCI), was chosen in the first round of yesterday's draft - ninth overall.

Salmon, who attends Rutgers University, played for Jamaica's Under-17 team. He was taken in the second round - 29th overall.

Neither Walker nor Salmon had been selected in MLS's more elite SuperDraft, which was completed last week.

The draft is used to select the best talent from US college football.

Walker is 6' 2", 185 pounds and makes a sizeable target up front. Last season he had 11 goals and two assists for UCI. He is eager to transfer that production to the pro ranks.

"I'm excited," Walker said yesterday from his home in San Diego, California.

"Playing professional soccer is a dream come true for a lot of youths and I'm getting a chance to live that dream."

disappointment

He shrugged off the disappointment of not being taken in the SuperDraft after being invited to Florida for the MLS Combine, a showcase for America's top college seniors held prior to the draft.

"I still have an opportunity to prove I can play," he said.

Walker is also keen to represent Jamaica again. He made a good impression on national coaches two years ago in Florida against a local pick-up team and Canada's Under-20s.

"I got a lot of positive feedback," he said.

Walker was asked to make himself available for the CONCACAF qualifiers in Trinidad and Tobago, but withdrew because he did not have a Jamaican passport. Since then he has acquired citizenship, which he qualified for because his father Gareth was born in St Andrew. He wants to wear the national colours again.

"Jamaica is the first and only country to come knocking," Walker said. "If they want me, I can't say no to Jamaica."

For now Walker and Salmon are focusing on making an impact with the Fire. Preseason training camp begins January 31.

"It's a brand new thing so I have to take it in little by little," Walker explained. "But you have to go in confident ... and say I have something to prove - that I can play. You have to know that the skills you possess can get the job done at the next level."

His father, a former goalkeeper and Cornwall College past student, believes his son has the necessary tools.

"I think he is ready for it," said Gareth Walker, who also has a daughter Zuri playing at UCI. " ... Amani has the drive and the will."