By FRANCO PANIZO
Two players who have raised their stocks in recent weeks will have another chance to do so this weekend.
Against one another.
Oguchi Onyewu and Brek Shea are set to square off in a match between Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley that has plenty of relegation implications. Onyewu and the Owls are only three points clear of the Championship’s drop zone, but Shea and Barnsley will be looking to pick up a big road victory as they attempt to close the five-point gap that separates them from safety. Given where Onyewu and Shea have been playing, the two should see plenty of each other on Saturday.
In another intriguing Saturday matchup, Tim Howard and Brad Guzan square off in a battle of Premiership goalkeepers. Guzan and Aston Villa are surely still buzzing from their 4-3 victory against West Bromwich Albion earlier in the week and will try to carry that momentum into the clash against Howard and Everton, which is aiming to rebound from Tuesday’s embarrassing 4-0 loss to Merseyside Derby rivals Liverpool.
If you are wondering what other matches you should keep an eye on, look no further than Friday’s tilt between Besiktas and Erciyesspor and the FC Utrecht-Ajax game on Sunday. Jermaine Jones could make his Besiktas debut in the Super Lig match against Erciyesspor, while Agudelo will attempt to help Utrecht snap a four-game losing streak in the Eredivisie against the Dutch powerhouse.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
Jermaine Jones and Besiktas play Erciyesspor.
Sacha Kljestan and RSC Anderlecht play Lierse SK.
SATURDAY
Jozy Altidore and Sunderland play Newcastle United.
Sebastian Lletget and West Ham United play Swansea City.
Tim Howard and Everton play Brad Guzan and Aston Villa.
Clint Dempsey and Fulham play Cody Cropper and Southampton.
Brad Friedel and Tottenham Hotspur play Hull City.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Manchester United.
Jonathan Spector, Will Packwood and Birmingham City play Zak Whitbread and Derby County. (Spector is out injured.)
Tim Ream, Stuart Holden and Bolton Wanderers play Ipswich Town. (Ream and Holden are out injured.)
Gboly Ariyibi and Leeds United play Duane Holmes and Huddersfield Town.
Danny Williams and Reading play Millwall.
Oguchi Onyewu and Sheffield Wednesday play Brek Shea and Barnsley.
Fabian Johnson and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim play Hamburg SV.
Steve Cherundolo and Hannover 96 play Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Sochaux.
Aron Johannsson and AZ Alkmaar play FC Groningen.
Jonathan Bornstein and Atlante play Club America.
DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Orozco and Puebla play Veracruz.
Alonso Hernandez and Monterrey play Jose Torres and Tigres UANL.
SUNDAY
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Yeovil Town.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Timmy Chandler and FC Nurnberg.
Juan Agudelo and FC Utrecht play Ajax.
Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, Paul Arriola and Club Tijuana play Pumas UNAM.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? How do you see Shea and Onyewu faring against one another? Do you see Agudelo getting significant playing time against Ajax?
Share your thoughts below.