EPL 2016-17: Americans battle for scarce playing time
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Aug 12, 2016
Of the eight Americans on EPL rosters for the 2016-17, only Geoff Cameron is given a good shot at starting, but faces competition from Glen Johnson for Stoke City's opener against Middlesbrough.
Former U.S. U-20s Cameron Carter-Vickers and Emerson Hyndman are tipped to make their EPL debuts this season, but a trio of young players, Matt Miazga,
DeAndre Yedlin and Gedion Zelalem, may need to change clubs to get regular playing ability.
ENGLAND, Premier
League
Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), age: 31; EPL appearances: 129.
Opener: at Middlesbrough (Saturday).
Cameron's
versatility has kept him in the Stoke lineup for four seasons. This season he starts in competition with English international Glen Johnson at right back.
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham), age: 18; EPL appearances: 0.
Opener: at Everton (Saturday).
Promoted to first team last
winter and dressed four times in Europa League matches. Started all six preseason games and went the distance for Spurs in International Champions Cup matches against Juventus, Atletico Madrid and
Inter Milan. Belgian Jan Vertonghen has recovered from an ankle injury, though, and could step back in the starting lineup alongside fellow Red DevilToby Alderweireld.
Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), age: 20; EPL appearances: 0.
Opener: at Manchester
City (Saturday).
Debuted for Black Cats in the League Cup a year ago and signed a three-year contract extension in April. Born to an English father and Irish mother and joined the Sunderland
academy program from the Santa Cruz (Calif.) Breakers Academy team.
Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), age: 31; EPL appearances: 144.
Opener: vs. Stoke City (Saturday).
Signed from Aston Villa after it allowed him to move as a free agent. Begins the season at
promoted 'Boro as the likely backup to Spaniard Victor Valdes, another offseason signing.
Emerson Hyndman (Bournemouth), age: 20; EPL appearances: 0.
Opener: vs. Manchester United (Sunday, NBCSN, 8:30 a.m. ET).
Played 25 games in two seasons for Fulham before leaving Craven Cottage on a
free transfer. Attracted interest from several first division clubs but Bournemouth, in its second season in the EPL, probably gives him his best shot at playing time in midfield. An ankle
injury suffered at the Cherries' camp in Minnesota set him back.
Matt Miazga (Chelsea), age: 21; EPL appearances: 2.
Opener: vs. West Ham United (Monday, NBCSN, 3 p,m. ET)
Started two games for the Blues after his mid-season transfer from the New York Red Bulls but unlikely to crack
their lineup in 2016-17 under new manager Antonio Conte, who hinted Miazga should get steady playing time elsewhere. Reports of a loan to Eintracht Frankfurt were debunked by the German
club.
DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham), age: 23; EPL appearances: 24.
Opener: at Everton (Saturday).
Returned to Spurs after winning the starting job at right back for Sunderland and helping it avoid relegation but stuck behind on Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier on the Spurs depth chart
at right back. A permanent transfer was complicated Sam Allardyce's exit from Sunderland to take the England coaching job. Allardyce's successor, David Moyes, has not dismissed a
permanent transfer, but the arrival of Paddy McNair and Donald Love, younger and cheaper options, is not good news. Could end up a third club in three seasons.
Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal), age: 19; EPL appearances: 0.
Opener: vs. Liverpool (Sunday, NBCSN, 11 a.m. ET)
Returned from a
season on loan to Rangers, which won promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, and spent the preseason with the Gunners' first team, getting playing time in both matches on their U.S. tour. That was
due in part to the extended vacations offered international players who played at Euro 2016 and the Copa Centenario. With a full squad, he'll be lucky to dress, so another loan move is likely.
