U.S. Soccer Elsewhere: Brek Shea Debut?
By Doug Smith
Stoke City travels to Craven Cottage this weekend to take on Fulham and Brek Shea has traveled with the team. It is unclear if manager Tony Pulis will use the attacking player, but it appears he is further along in his rehabilitation from a foot injury than ever. Geoff Cameron expects to start for Stoke as they battle a team four points behind them in the table. Neither team’s current form is where they want it to be although Stoke is coming off a victory against Reading. The match can be seen in the United States on ESPN2 at 7:45 am EST Saturday morning.
September11, 2012; Columbus, OH, USA; USA midfielder Brek Shea (11) wears an undershirt honoring Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso (not pictured) after their game against Jamaica during a World Cup qualifying match at Columbus Crew Stadium. USA won the game 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Everton and Tim Howard visits Norwich City at Carrow Road with their hopes of making the top four fleeting. Norwich is still looking for its first victory in the 2013 calendar year with Everton coming off a disappointing draw in FA Cup action. These teams average about three goals per match when they face one another.
Clint Dempsey and Tottenham will be the last match of the Premier League weekend following their Europa League fixture on Thursday. The match with West Ham can also be seen on ESPN2 on Monday with Spurs hoping to have a chance to take over the third spot in the table depending on the outcome of Chelsea Vs Manchester City. Tottenham have won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two squads.
In the Bundesliga Timothy Chandler and Nürnberg take on Stuttgart with a chance to leap a few teams in the bottom third of the standings. Chandler has been solid in his return to the German side with the squad having a win and two draws over the last three matches. Stuttgart has one win and five losses in the last six matches.
U.S. players could be all over the pitch as Augsburg takes on Hoffenheim. Michael Parkhurst got his first start for Augsburg last week. Hoffenheim is still in the relegation playoff zone, but Danny Williams and Fabian Johnson are still getting playing time. Williams may not start, however. A win by Augsburg would allow the teams to switch places in the standings, but both are in serious danger of heading to 2. Bundesliga next year.
Jermaine Jones returns to Bundesliga action after scoring in Champions League play this week as Schalke take on Düsseldorf. Schalke have only managed five points over the last five matches, but a Europa League spot remains in view.
In Mexico Herculez Gomez and Santos Laguna take on second place Club America Friday night. Gomez continues to play major minutes for his club team. League leaders Tigres and Jose Torres will take on Cruz Azul, a team that suffered their first loss last week. Damarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco Fiscal of Puebla will take on Monterrey. Club Tijuana with Joe Corona and Edgar Castillo look to stop their two game losing streak against Atlante. Tijuana is coming off a midweek Copa Libertadores victory.
Stuart Holden is still looking to get back into the starting lineup for Bolton as well. They take on Hull City in the English Championship.