photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
If you enjoyed watching Tim Howard stone Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez on Wednesday night, you may soon get another opportunity to see the U.S. men's national team goalkeeper do so.
Howard and Everton kick off their Premiership season at home against Hernandez and Manchester United on Monday in one of the marquee games on opening weekend. Howard is all but set to start in goal for the Toffees against his former club, but Hernandez's availability is less certain considering United just picked up Robin van Persie. If the Mexican does play, expect Howard to try and replicate the type of performance against Hernandez that helped the U.S. team come out of Estadio Azteca victorious for the first time on Wednesday night.
The Premiership is not the only league getting back into full gear. The Championship is also set to get underway, and Tim Ream and Bolton Wanderers will try to start their quest for promotion with a win on the road versus Burnley. Ream is likely to start in central defense for the Trotters, while teammate Stuart Holden will miss the Saturday match as he is still recovering from injury.
Helsingborgs IF will be in action on Saturday as well, and their match could mark Alejandro Bedoya's debut for the club and his official return to the Allsvenskan. Helsingborgs visits Elfsborg and a win could put the former team in the top three in the league table.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
FRIDAY
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Olhanense.
Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL.
DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Morelia.
SATURDAY
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Norwich City.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Reading.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play West Ham United.
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Newcastle United.
Robbie Rogers and Leeds United play Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Charlton Athletic.
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Burnley. (Holden is out injured.)
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Sheffield Wednesday.
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Peterborough United.
Robbie Findley and Nottingham Forest play Bristol City.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Stevenage.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams, Joe Gyau and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Berliner AK '07 in the first round of DFB Pokal.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Raec Mons.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play SK Sturm Graz.
Charlie Davies and Randers FC play Silkeborg IF.
Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF play FC Copenhagen.
Alejandro Bedoya and Helsingborgs IF play Elfsborg.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Sandefjord in the NM Cupen quarterfinals.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Queretaro.
Sonny Guadarrama and Atlante play Monterrey.
Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna play Pumas UNAM.
Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis play Chivas de Guadalajara.
SUNDAY
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play FC Nottingen 1957 in the first round of DFB Pokal.
Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Wormatia Worms in the first round of DFB Pokal.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play TSV Havelse in the first round of DFB Pokal.
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play 1 FC Saarbrucken in the first round of DFB Pokal.
Andrew Wooten and Kaiserslautern play Hansa Rostock in the first round of DFB Pokal.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play SC Heracles Almelo.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sporting CP play Guimaraes.
Eugene Starikov and Zenit St. Petersburg play Anzhi Makhachkala.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play AGF Aarhus.
Jose Torres and Pachuca play Toluca.
MONDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Manchester United.
Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE play Odense BK.
Brian Span and Djurgardens IF play Dalstorps IF in the second round of Svenska Cupen.
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Which of these games are you looking most forward to? Do you think Howard can work up some more magic against 'Chicharito' Hernandez? Envision Ream and Bolton gaining promotion back into the Premiership this season?
Share your thoughts below.