By FRANCO PANIZO
All eyes are on Fabian Johnson.
Johnson’s drama with the U.S. Men’s National Team has been a major talking point all week, and, as head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said on Tuesday, we will learn this weekend just how healthy Johnson is. Borussia Moenchengladbach is set to visit Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, and it has been said that Johnson is expected to be available though in what capacity is unclear. In any case, Moenchengladbach could sorely use a win, as only four points separate it from the Bundesliga’s drop zone.
The U.S.’s two starting goalkeepers are also involved in matches worth watching, as both Tim Howard and Brad Guzan take on star-studded opposition. Howard leads Everton into a home battle against Manchester United on Saturday after making his U.S. return on Tuesday, and Guzan will try and help Aston Villa add to Chelsea’s early-season misery with an upset win at Stamford Bridge.
Other players returning from international duty that are worth tracking are Ethan Horvath and Emerson Hyndman. The duo just helped the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team finish in third place in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying, and now the two youngsters will try to get on the field with their clubs. Horvath is looking to step back in goal for Molde FK in its Sunday duel vs. Mjondalen, and Hyndman is aiming to earn some minutes when Fulham collides with Middlesbrough.
Here is who the Americans Abroad take on this weekend:
FRIDAY
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Bristol City.
Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen play Kaiserslautern.
Joe Corona and Veracruz play Santos Laguna.
Michael Orozco, Paul Arriola, Alejandro Guido and Club Tijuana play Ventura Alvarado and Club America.
SATURDAY
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Chelsea.
Tim Howard and Everton play Manchester United.
DeAndre Yedlin, Lynden Gooch and Sunderland play West Bromwich Albion.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Queens Park Rangers.
Tim Ream, Emerson Hyndman and Fulham play Middlesbrough.
Cody Cropper and Milton Keynes Dons play Blackburn Rovers. (Cropper is out injured.)
Danny Williams, Andrija Novakovich and Reading play Charlton Athletic.
Gedion Zelalem and Rangers play Queen of South.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Schalke 04.
Aron Johannsson and Werder Bremen play Bayern Munich. (Johannsson is out injured.)
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach. (Chandler is out injured.)
Bobby Wood and FC Union Berlin play St Pauli.
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Troyes.
Desevio Payne and FC Groningen play Willem II Tilburg.
Rubio Rubin and FC Utrecht play Roda JC Kerkrade.
Cole Grossman and Stabaek IF play Aalesund.
Jose Torres and Tigres UANL play Pachuca.
Miguel Ibarra, William Yarbrough and Club Leon play Pumas UNAM.
Greg Garza and Atlas play Morelia. (Garza is out injured.)
Gabriel Farfan and Jaguares de Chiapas play Edgar Castillo and Monterrey.
SUNDAY
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play VfB Stuttgart.
Caleb Stanko and SC Freiburg play SpVgg Greuther Furth.
Terrence Boyd and RB Leipzig play VfL Bochum. (Boyd is out injured.)
Jonathan Bornstein and Queretaro play Toluca.
Ethan Horvath and Molde FK play Rhett Bernstein, Erik Hurtado and Mjondalen IF.
Zarek Valentin, Danny Cruz and FK Bodo/Glimt play Rosenborg.
A.J. Soares and Viking FK play Tromso.
MONDAY
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Swansea City.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? Do you see Johnson starting for Moenchengladbach on Saturday? How will Howard and Guzan fare this weekend?
Share your thoughts below.
Let’s go Fabian, let’s show Klinsi you’re the best at your position, not the one he wants you to play. Please, don’t play for Klinsi, ever again. Don’t forget that he threw you under the bus and also don’t forget what he did to the best soccer player in US history at the detriment of our national team. That guy, Klinsi, does not give a rat’s behind about the development of US Socer; he cares only about his image and ego.
Picault switched to Haiti.
No. He went to camp but didn’t play, never filed anything and identifies himself as American
Former U-20 winger Fabrice Picault and St Pauli play Union Berlin on Saturday.
Let the guy play for Haiti, look what happened with Antigoal.
I hope in the end it was all worth it Fabian. Cover yourself in that bottom third Bundesliga glory and lay a giant egg in champions league bombing out with the rest of the pretenders.
hook, line, & sinker
i hope that does not happen
Klinsi has a spell on you, I see.