It is fair to say that Josmer Volmy Altidore's experience of England was not the greatest.

Affectionately called “Jozy” by his American team-mates, he became known as “Dozy” by his manager Iain Dowie during a less than impressive nine-month loan spell at Hull last season.

After scoring only one goal in 28 league appearances and being sent off in his last match, against Sunderland, for headbutting Alan Hutton, the striker was sent back to his parent club Villarreal in Spain with a flea in his ear.

“He hasn't fulfilled his potential here. He's got one goal and for the level of investment it's probably not enough. I have spoken to Jozy a number of times since I've been here and if he can train the way he plays, then he's got a great opportunity but he needs to understand that it needs to be day in, day out.”

That was Dowie's frank assessment of what he saw as a lack of effort from the 20-year-old during his time on Humberside. He was not the only man in charge at Hull who had problems with the chunky forward.

Former manager Phil Brown fined him for revealing on Twitter he was dropped against Portsmouth in October for being late.

Altidore's tweet read: “Apologise to all of you. I showed up late. Made a big mistake I'm very very sorry.” That led to a reprimand from Brown, who said: “That for me is information that stays in house. The reason he wasn't on the bench was our business.”

Altidore insists Hull's fans never saw the best of him and hopes they will on Saturday night, when the USA take on England in Rustenburg in their opening match of the World Cup.

“I was actually laughing when the draw was made, not because I was being disrespectful to England but just because we have so many players who have come over to England,” he said.

“We have had four-five players who are the main focal point of the national team. It is great. It will give us a chance to test ourselves and really compete against one of the best teams in the world.

“At the same time the people in England are enjoying it as well. They think they have a team that they feel is very good this time around and they don't want to be disappointed.”

There is much more to Altidore than poor timekeeping and Twittering. He has spent much of 2010 helping to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake and was late for the clash with Pompey because he had been given compassionate leave and had travelled to help 30 of his relations who had been made homeless on the tiny island.

Altidore was born in New Jersey but his parents both herald from Haiti. The striker wears a wristband bearing the country's flag during matches and joined Grammy Award-winning singer Wyclef Jean in raising funds for the foundation Yele Haiti.

“I feel fine now,” Altidore added. “It was a tough year playing at Hull while there were problems back home in Haiti but at the same time I grew. I went through a lot of different things but it was a good experience. I don't feel 20, I feel 35.”

Altidore, who is now recovered from an ankle injury, will need to show a growing maturity if the USA are to inflict a shock victory over Fabio Capello's men.

“Anything can happen and it's anybody's game,” he said. “For us, I think it's a bid to show the world that we have players who can compete against what some say is the best League in the world and some of the best players in the world. We don't want to be the ones to lose.”

And if he does impress, Altidore has still not given up hope of making his mark in the Premier League and would jump at the chance of a move to the capital. “There are some fine clubs in London,” he added. “It would be a great opportunity to play there.”