The Mexican league, now known as the Liga MX, kicks off on Friday and Tom Marshall expects some U.S. players to play key roles for their teams.

Pachuca brought in a host of expensive names, leaving question marks around Texan Jose Torres' role in new head coach Hugo Sanchez's project. But Sanchez started “el Gringo” throughout the preseason, and Torres looks set to be given the chance to make a central midfield spot his own.

Current champion Santos Laguna has only added a couple of players to an already deep squad. That means prolific goalscorer Herculez Gomez embarks on his sixth season in Mexico fighting for his starting place against the likes of Christian Suárez, Candido Ramírez, Gerardo Lugo and Darwin Quintero. A lot is expected from 30-year-old winger DaMarcus Beasley by struggling Puebla.

Just over the border in Tijuana, the Xolos' band of U.S. players -- Joe Corona, Alejandro Guido, Edgar Castillo and Greg Garza -- has been getting preseason minutes and the club again looks set to steal the limelight for Americans down south. Michael Orozco Fiscal's San Luis was sold over the summer, but the former Philadelphia Union center back's team will likely struggle again this season, with only a handful of new signings brought in. Jonathan Bornstein hopes for playing time as Tigres UANL challenges for the title again.