We read a lot about the USMNT stars in Europe on a week-to-week basis, especially gems like Christian Pulisic, Fabian Johnson, Geoff Cameron, and John Brooks.
But what about those players outside of the Bundesliga and Premier League, those either in lesser leagues or even second tiers?
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Here’s a check-in with some players not often hitting the TV screens of American soccer fans.
Matt Miazga has jammed his way into the Vitesse starting lineup, going the full 90 minutes in each of the Eredivisie club’s last four matches. According to advanced stats site Squawka, the on-loan Chelsea center back been the best player on the squad during that time span. Fellow Eredivisie players Rubio Rubin and Desevio Payne are not finding playing time at all.
Promising Fulham teenager Luca De La Torre, 18, is playing right mid for the club in Premier League 2. De La Torres has a goal in PL2 play, and has also played 125 minutes for Fulham in the EFL Cup.
Eric Lichaj is again going 90 on a week-to-week basis for Nottingham Forest, and the 27-year-old left and right back has spent the last two weeks playing in a wide midfield position. At times, we imagine he must mail Jurgen Klinsmann boxes full of rotten food.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: DeAndre Yedlin of Newcastle United controls the ball during the EFL Cup Fourth Round match between Newcastle United and Preston North End at St James’ Park on October 25, 2016 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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DeAndre Yedlin continues to impress for Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United. After some time at right wing in Benitez’s heavily-rotated squad, he’s gone 90 at right back in three-straight and assisted a goal in the Magpies’ last win.
Newcastle has won all eight matches its played since a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Sept. 24, and has not a single match with Yedlin in the lineup (11W-1D).
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Birmingham City’s Jonathan Spector is also playing full games on a fairly religious basis at right back, while Danny Williams has gone 90 in the middle of the park in all but one of Reading’s matches.
Nineteen-year-old Sporting KC loanee Erik Palmer-Brown has forced himself back into the Porto B fray, going 90 minutes over his past three matches. Remember Fafa Picault? The once-capped U.S. forward has battled back trouble this year in the 2.Bundesliga, and is yet to score.