Line USA neglected ahead of year without much confidence? (8)
I believe the answer is:
uneasily
If this is the answer, I'm afraid I cannot explain it.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for uneasily that I've seen before include "In apprehensive manner" , "With anxiety or apprehension" , "Hardly so, you might think" , "In worried way, lacking in confidence" , "In nervous way" .)