Photo by ISIphotos.com
It took 10 months, but Frank Simek finally made his way back onto the field for Sheffield Wednesday.
The U.S. national team defender saw his lengthy recovery from torn ankle ligaments reach its conclusion when he played 33 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Plymouth. The appearance is good news for a player whose career was just really starting to blossom before the injury.
Simek was one of many American players to see action in mid-week play in Europe. Maurice Edu got off the bench and earned a start for Rangers while Jozy Altidore earned a start for Villarreal in Copa Del Rey action.
Here is a rundown of how all the Americans Abroad did in mid-week action (not that not all Americans Abroads play in leagues that had games in mid-week):
ENGLAND
PREMIER LEAGUE
- Tim Howard started, played 90 minutes, made eight saves and recorded his first league shutout of the season in Everton’s 1-0 win vs. Bolton on Wednesday.
- Brad Friedel started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Aston Villa’s 3-2 win vs. Blackburn on Wednesday.
- Brad Guzan dressed but did not play for Aston Villa.
- Clint Dempsey came off the bench and played 17 minutes in Fulham’s 2-0 vs. Wigan on Wednesday.
- Jonathan Spector did not dress in West Ham’s 2-0 loss to Manchester United on Wednesday.
COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP
- Marcus Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made eight saves in Reading’s 1-0 loss to Burnley on Wednesday.
- BobbycConvey did not dress for Reading.
- Jay DeMerit started and played 90 minutes in Watford’s 2-0 loss to Preston on Wednesday.
- Frank Simek came off the bench and played 33 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Plymouth on Wednesday.
- Eddie!Johnson came off the bench and played 11 minutes in Cardiff City’s 2-0 win vs. Blackpool on Wednesday.
SCOTLAND
- Maurice Edu started and played 90 minutes in Rangers’ 2-0 win vs. Hamilton Academic on Wednesday.
- DaMarcus Beasley did not dress for Rangers.
- Mike Videira did not dress for Hamilton Academic.
GERMANY
BUNDESLIGA
- Michael Bradley started and played 57 minutes in BorussiaIMoenchengladbach’s 3-0 loss to VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
- Neven Subotic started and played 90 minutes in Borussia Dortmund’s 1-0 win vs. FC Koln on Wednesday.
- Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 minutes in Hannover 96’s 3-0 loss to Hertha Berlin on Wednesday.
- Sal Zizzo did not dress for Hannover 96.
- Brian Arguez did not dress for Hertha Berlin.
BUNDESLIGA 2
- Gregg Berhalter started and played 90 minutes in 1860 Munich’s 1-0 win vs TUS Koblenz on Wednesday.
- David Yelldell started, played 90 minutes and made four saves for TUS Koblenz.
- Matt Taylor came off the bench and played 18 minutes for TUS Koblenz.
- Luis Robles came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Kaiserslautern’s 2-0 win vs. VfL Osnabruck on Wednesday.
- Heath Pearce dressed but did not play in Hansa Rostock’s 2-1 loss to SpVgg Greuther Fuerth on Tuesday.
- Grover Gibson did not dress in Ahlen’s 2-0 win vs. Alemania Aachen on Tuesday.
SPAIN
- Jozy Altidore started and played 90 minutes in Villarreal’s 5-0 loss to Polideportivo Ejido in Copa Del Rey action on Wednesday.
ITALY
SERIE B
- Danny Szetela did not dress in Brescia’s 1-0 win vs. Salernitana on Tuesday.
FRANCE
Ligue 1
- Carlos Bocanegra started and played 90 minutes in Rennes’ 0-0 tie vs. Valenciennes on Wednesday.
- Freddy Adu dressed but did not play in Monaco’s 3-1 win vs. AS Nancy Lorraine on Wednesday.
SWEDEN
- Charlie Davies came off the bench and played 29 minutes in Hammarby’s 2-1 win vs. Halmstad on Wednesday.
- Ryan Raybould did not dress in Gefle IF’s 3-1 loss to Kalmar FF on Wednesday.
- Etche Tabe started, played 90 minutes and drew a yellow card in Ljunskile’s 3-1 loss to Malmo on Tuesday.
- Colin Burns started and played 90 minutes for Ljunskile.
American-born Players Playing for Other Countries
- Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) started and played 61 minutes in Villarreal’s 5-0 loss to Polideportivo Ejido in Copa Del Rey action on Wednesday.
- Brede Hangeland (Norway) started and played 90 minutes in Fulham’s 2-0 win vs. Wigan on Wednesday.
- Boaz Myhill (Wales) started, played 90 minutes and made three savesin Hull City’ 3-0 loss to Chelsea on Wednesday.
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If there are players I forgot to list feel free to list them below. Please remember that I’m trying to focus on first divisions and, in some cases, second divisions, so keep that in mind when suggesting players for the list.
What do you think of the mid-week performances? Share your thoughts below.