[AMERICANS ABROAD] Goalie Brad Guzan lost in his debut with League Championship Hull City as the Tigers fell to visiting Leicester City, 1-0, on Saturday.

Guzan is considered the heir apparent to Tim Howard as the starting U.S. national team goalkeeper, but he has played all of 27 minutes in the English Premier League since joining Aston Villa from Chivas USA in 2008 and has been loaned to Hull City for a month.

Guzan's only EPL appearance came as a 64th-minute substitute against Liverpool in March 2009 when fellow American Brad Friedel was sent off.

Villa has yet to renew the 39-year-old Friedel's contract, indicating that it will look to make a change in goal next season.

Several names have been popped up as possible replacements: Rangers keeper Allan McGregor and Borussia Dortmund's Roman Weidenfeller. But Guzan's name is not often mentioned.

"We are looking at several goalkeepers -- and we've told Brad," said Villa manager Gerard Houllier of Friedel recently. "We're looking for a keeper for the future. If Brad is fine in February, then we will keep him. We've told him that, if he feels OK. 'I've spoken to him and said, 'Obviously, you're 39, so I need to look to the future but I'm perfectly happy with you.' And if he feels fine, why not? We'll ask him in February. If he feels all right, we'll keep him. If he stays, he'll stay as the first-team keeper."

Hull was relegated from the EPL last season and sits in a four-way tie for 11th place in the League Championship.

In addition to Guzan, the Tigers have acquired Aaron McLean from Peterborough United and Matty Fryatt from Leicester City.