Tim Ream will be playing in a familiar setting this weekend, though rather than playing for the team where his European career began, he will be playing against it.
Ream will return to Macron Stadium on Saturday to face off against his former side, Bolton, for the first time since leaving the Trotters to join Fulham last summer. The 28-year-old defender spent four-and-a-half seasons with Bolton, but will push all his good feelings and nostalgia aside to try and help his current club, Fulham, end a 15-game winless streak. That poor run of form has Ream and the Cottagers not far ahead of the English Championship’s relegation zone, so picking up three points is of high priority.
While Ream seems to be a lock to start for Fulham, fellow U.S. Men’s National Team player DeAndre Yedlin is an unknown. Yedlin lasted just 19 minutes as a starter in Sunderland’s last fixture due to tactical reasons, and it is unclear whether he will be given the nod again when the Black Cats visit slumping Chelsea. If the speedy youngster is included in Sunderland’s lineup on Saturday, he will have a chance to help the club move out of the English Premier League’s drop zone. Sunderland needs a win to do so, and also some outside help.
Another intriguing match-up taking place in England’s top flight will be Tim Howard and Everton’s showdown with surprise league leader Leicester City. The Toffees will be at home for this Saturday affair, but will need to put together a strong outing in order to halt Leicester City’s undefeated run of nine games. Giving Howard and his side even more incentive to try and come out on top is the fact that they are just three points shy of a spot in next season’s UEFA Europa League, which is currently held by Tottenham.
Here is who the Americans Abroad square off against this weekend:
FRIDAY
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Cardiff City.
Bobby Wood and FC Union Berlin play Andrew Wooten and SV Sandhausen.
Shawn Barry and FSV Frankfurt play Arminia Bielefeld.
SATURDAY
DeAndre Yedlin, Lynden Gooch and Sunderland play Chelsea.
Tim Howard and Everton play Leicester City.
Geoff Cameron and Stoke City play Crystal Palace.
Brad Guzan and Aston Villa play Newcastle United.
Tim Ream, Emerson Hyndman and Fulham play Bolton Wanderers.
Eric Lichaj and Nottingham Forest play Cody Cropper and Milton Keynes Dons.
Gedion Zelalem and Rangers play Falkirk.
Timmy Chandler and Eintracht Frankfurt play Aron Johannsson and Werder Bremen. (Johannsson is out injured.)
Alfredo Morales and FC Ingolstadt 04 play Borussia Dortmund.
Terrence Boyd and RB Leipzig play SpVgg Greuther Furth. (Boyd is out injured.)
Alejandro Bedoya and FC Nantes play Lorient.
Rubio Rubin and FC Utrecht play AZ Alkmaar. (Rubin is out injured.)
Desevio Payne and FC Groningen play SC Heracles Almelo.
SUNDAY
Danny Williams and Reading play Blackburn Rovers.
John Brooks and Hertha Berlin play Mainz.
Fabian Johnson and Borussia Moenchengladbach play SV Darmstadt 98.
Caleb Stanko and SC Freiburg play TSV 1860 Munich.
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Which of these matches are you most looking forward to? How do you see Ream faring against Bolton? Think Yedlin starts or even sees the field for Sunderland?
Share your thoughts below.