The 2023-24 English Football League Championship season gets underway on Friday with several U.S. men’s national team players set to kick off their individual campaigns.
Josh Sargent and Lynden Gooch headline the six American players in the Championship heading into opening weekend. Both Norwich City and Sunderland will be among the promotion chasers this campaign after finishing in the top half last season.
Sargent will be the leading attacker for the Canaries following Teemu Pukki’s move to MLS while Gooch remains a veteran leader in the Black Cats defense.
U.S. men’s national team midfielder Tyler Adams begins the campaign with Leeds United, but for how long is the real question. Adams is still fighting to get back to full fitness after suffering a hamstring injury in March during the Premier League campaign.
Daryl Dike will also begin the new season on the sidelines after missing the final few months of last campaign for West Bromwich Albion. Dike will be fighting to get back to his best after totaling seven goals for the Baggies before his season-ending injury.
Duane Holmes has traded in Huddersfield Town for Preston North End in his latest quest to earn promotion in to the EPL. Holmes brings ample experience to the Preston squad and remains a creative attacking threat in the final third.
Matthew Hoppe is currently at Middlesbrough, but could face another season out on loan in order to earn consistent minutes. Hoppe spent the second half of last season with Scottish Premiership club Hibernian, but barely featured over the final month.
Here is a look at the Americans Abroad faces in the EFL Championship:
Josh Sargent, Norwich City
It’s Josh Sargent’s time to shine with Norwich City.
Sargent leads David Wagner’s attack this season as the Canaries aim to earn promotion back to the English Premier League. The Missouri native led the Canaries with 13 goals last season, featuring at times as a striker and a winger.
Sargent will now lead the line after Teemu Pukki departed the club for Minnesota United. There will be ample pressure on Sargent to add to his totals from last season, but he’s certainly capable of reaching double-digits once again.
Lynden Gooch, Sunderland
Sunderland enjoyed a positive return to the EFL Championship and expectations within the squad will be higher for 2023-24.
Lynden Gooch remains a veteran member of the squad, tallying over 240 appearances for the Black Cats within the top-three divisions in English Football. The 27-year-old mainly has featured as a full back and wingback for Sunderland, growing into a vocal leader on and off the pitch.
Sunderland will be hoping to hit the ground running in order to be in the top-six mix by May 2024.
Tyler Adams, Leeds United
Tyler Adams would’ve traditionally been first on his list, but his club future remains unknown heading into the new season.
A hamstring injury has sidelined Adams since March, where he was unable to help Leeds United avoid the drop from the Premier League. He reportedly has a relegation clause in his contract at Leeds, similar to follow USMNT teammate Brenden Aaronson (who has joined Union Berlin on loan).
Adams’ lingering injury could force him to miss the first month of Leeds’ schedule, which could also see him forced to stay with the Yorkshire club until at least the January Transfer Window. Leeds United would surely keep him in its midfield, but it comes down to whether Adams wants to stay or not.
Haji Wright, Coventry City
Coventry City desperately needed attacking help this summer from Viktor Gyokeres departure from the club and found that in the form of Haji Wright.
Wright joined from Turkish side Antalyaspor last week for a club-record fee, providing the American striker with a new opportunity in England. The 24-year-old led Antalyaspor in goals in each of the last two seasons and will be expected to hit the ground running for a promotion contender.
Daryl Dike, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion won only one of its six summer friendlies this preseason, putting an early sense of urgency on Saturday’s league opener at Blackburn Rovers.
23-year-old Daryl Dike is expected to miss the opening few months of the campaign due to an Achilles injury suffered in mid-April. The former Orlando City standout scored seven goals in 23 appearances for the Baggies last season, which was good enough to lead the club.
Dike’s physical presence and clinical goalscoring abilities will certainly be missed in Carlos Corberan’s squad, but hopefully a full recovery can allow Dike to play a key role over the final six months of the campaign.
Duane Holmes, Preston North End
Preston North End surprisingly came close to a promotion playoff spot last season and Duane Holmes will hope to be part of similar success in 2023-24.
Holmes, a veteran midfielder, joined Preston from Huddersfield Town this July, giving Ryan Lowe an experienced attacker to call on. The 28-year-old registered two goals and two assists in 27 league appearances last season, helping the Terriers avoid the drop to League One.
A change of scenery might help Holmes boost his production this season and potentially lead Preston to a top-six finish by May.
Jonathan Tomkinson, Norwich City
Norwich City has plenty of experience in its defensive corps, making it tough for Jonathan Tomkinson to have a crack a first team role yet again in 2023-24.
Tomkinson, 21, spent the second half of last season on loan with Stevenage, helping them earn promotion to League One. The former U.S. youth national team defender has three senior appearances with the Canaries and might be sent on loan again to stay fit and continue his development.
Vaughn Covil, Hull City
20-year-old Vaughn Covil is still young in his professional career, but is one for U.S. men’s national team fans to keep an eye on.
Covil, a dual-national winger, made seven combined appearances for Hull City last season. He previously played for Forest Green Rovers while also spending time at Salisbury on loan from the English fourth-tier side.
Covil is eligible to represent the USMNT and England, but still has a long way to go to get on either team’s senior radar.
Tomkinson is injured and will be for some while.