photo by Joe Toth/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Clint Dempsey made a habit of coming up big in marquee matches during his time with Fulham, and Tottenham Hotspur are surely hoping that will also hold true, beginning with this weekend.
Spurs are set to pay a visit to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in a game that might mark Dempsey's toughest challenge in the early goings of his Tottenham career. Dempsey has started in the club's last few matches and he surely is hoping to get the nod again so as to try and open his goal-scoring account for a Spurs side that is currently on a four-game unbeaten run.
Another player who may be involved in one of the weekend's high-profile games is Michael Bradley. The midfielder just returned to training after recovering from a thigh injury and he could make his second league appearance of the season in AS Roma's visit to Juventus on Saturday. Bradley is unlikely to start in the battle of Italian heavyweights, but he could take part as Roma attempts to upset first-place Juventus in Torino by coming off the bench.
Aron Johannsson is likely set for another start for AGF Aarhus when they take on Odense BK on Sunday, and the red-hot striker will be aiming to add to the 10 goals that currently have him as the top scorer in the Danish Superliga. Johannsson and Aarhus are currently in fourth place in the league and a win could bring them within striking distance of second-place Aalborg BK.
Here is who the Americans Abroad will be facing this weekend:
FRIDAY
Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 play Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Joe Gyau and St Pauli play SSV Jahn Regensburg.
Michael Parkhurst and FC Nordsjaelland play Esbjerg.
Mix Diskerud and Rosenborg BK play Haugesund.
SATURDAY
Tim Howard and Everton play Southampton.
Geoff Cameron, Maurice Edu and Stoke City play Swansea City.
Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Manchester United.
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Crystal Palace. (Holden is out injured.)
Zak Whitbread and Leicester City play Middlesbrough.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Brighton & Hove Albion.
Frank Simek and Carlisle United play Crawley Town.
Mike Grella and Scunthorpe United play Portsmouth.
Robbie Rogers and Stevenage play Bury. (Rogers is out injured.)
Oguchi Onyewu and Malaga play Real Betis.
Carlos Bocanegra and Racing Santander play Numancia.
Michael Bradley and AS Roma play Juventus.
David Yelldell and Bayer Leverkusen play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Hamburg SV.
Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg play VfB Stuttgart.
Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play FC Augsburg.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play TSV 1860 Munich.
Tony Taylor and Estoril Praia play Sporting CP.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play KSC Lokeren.
Terrence Boyd and Rapid Vienna play FC Wacker Tirol.
Ventura Alvarado and Club America play Morelia.
Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Club Tijuana play Queretaro.
Jose Torres and Pachuca play Chivas de Guadalajara.
Jonathan Bornstein and Tigres UANL play Michael Orozco Fiscal and San Luis.
SUNDAY
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj and Aston Villa play West Bromwich Albion.
Conor Doyle and Derby County play Nottingham Forest.
Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar play RKC Waalwijk.
Caleb Patterson-Sewell and Vitoria Setubal play Beira Mar.
Eugene Starikov and FK Rostov play FK Rubin Kazan.
Aron Johannsson and AGF Aarhus play Odense BK.
Charlie Davies and Randers FC play Clarence Goodson and Brondby IF.
Alejandro Bedoya and Helsingborgs IF play Atvidabergs FF.
Steve Clark and Honefoss BK play Sogndal.
Josh Gatt and Molde FK play Sean Cunningham and Stabaek IF. (Gatt is out injured.)
DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla play Pumas UNAM.
Herculez Gomez, Benji Joya and Santos Laguna play Atlante.
MONDAY
Alfredo Morales, John Anthony Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Kaiserslautern.
Conor O'Brien and SonderjyskE play FC Midtjylland.
Brian Span and Djurgardens IF play Mjallby.
Chad Barrett and Valerenga play Fredrikstad.
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Which of these games are you most looking forward to? Do you see Dempsey opening his Spurs account against Manchester United? Hopeful that Bradley will dress for Roma's game versus Juventus?
Share your thoughts below.