DALLAS — Geoff Cameron's versatility has been a curse at times during his career.

The U.S. national team defender can play center back, right back or central midfield and filled all of those roles at various times for the Stars and Stripes. It's not that he wasn't willing to do what his coach asked him to do to help the side, it's that moving from position to position wasn't the most conducive to his growth.

Now, after a season in which he started 16 matches at center back for Stoke City, Cameron hopes he also can carve out a niche for the national team in the Copa America Centenario.

"Obviously, as a team player, I want to do whatever I can to help the team to win and make it through to the next round and go as far as we can and hopefully win it," Cameron told Goal USA. "For me, it doesn’t matter what position. At the same time, I’m playing at a consistent [position] and get consistent reps in the same position, it’s always good. I’m going to feel more and more confident in my ability and you get more used to the guys you’re playing in front of and alongside."

With DeAndre Yedlin coming off a season of playing at right back in the Premier League, a spot where Cameron started six times for the Potters, conventional wisdom says those two Premier League regulars could make up the strongest right side the U.S. defense has had in recent memory. While U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann may opt for a different alignment, he's been impressed with how Cameron recovered from a bit of a valley in his career after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Klinsmann also talked about the consistency Cameron has found at Stoke — not just in the position he's playing but in quality of performances he's putting in. He also spoke about the leadership role Cameron has taken on. Now 30, the Massachusetts native is one of the national team's older hands. After missing the Gold Cup in 2015 at the request of his club, Cameron is hoping to be a big part of the United States' summer tournament this time around.

"I think he’s really focused right now, he’s balanced and we want to see from Geoff a very, kind of leadership role in this tournament — to confirm that [leadership role] but to confirm that game by game by game so no ups and downs," Klinsmann said.

The coach said Cameron already had shown elements of being a leader, citing a strong mental showing in March's World Cup qualification defeat to Guatemala that required the U.S. to switch to three at the back as Klinsmann's side tried to chase the game. Cameron then helped the team bounce back from that disappointing defeat with a home victory over the same Guatemala side, Klinsmann said.

"Even if the first one didn’t go well, he showed actually a lot of leadership in that game in Guatemala City," the coach said. "We ended up playing that game with a back three because we threw everything up front and he ran the whole scenario there and he ran again in the home game."

Cameron isn't likely to play in Wednesday's friendly match against Ecuador, as he's still recovering from a knock suffered with Stoke City. The defender says the hamstring problem shouldn't affect his ability to play in the Copa America.

"Picked up a little bit of an injury against West Ham [on May 15] and came out last 10, 15 minutes of the game," he said. "I’m just being cautious and making sure that I’m right and I’m fully fit before June 3. I’m almost there, right around the corner."

When that corner is turned, the U.S. will hope it can depend on Cameron to provide leadership and consistency against some of the most dangerous teams against the Americas.

"I think it’s a matter of just getting your legs going, to stay sharp and kind of get everybody on the same page," he said of the camp prior to the tournament's start. "You’re training every single day. That’s just as important. Saying that, yeah it’s good to get these games, but obviously the main goal is to make sure we’re prepared and ready to go for June 3."