It was a busy weekend for Americans around the English Football League and for quite a few it was a weekend to forget. From strikers around the Championship scoring with ease to a big move to France for Mark McKenzie, the highs were high for Americans abroad, but the lows were quite low as well. There could be changes among the United States men’s national team goalkeeper ranks and more but let’s see how Americans in the EFL and beyond fared this weekend.
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Stock up: Haji Wright, Coventry City
Haji Wright has a flair for the dramatic and his performance to lead Coventry City over Oxford United was one to remember. In a 3-2 victory, Wright scored a brace to pull the Sky Blues through on a day when their defense struggled. Operating from the left flank in attack, Wright was able to interchange well in the forward line and bag a brace to pick up all three points. With Coventry looking to push for promotion to the Premier League, every point will matter and Wright’s performances will be central to that. While it’s early in the championship season, Wright is second only to Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath in expected goals among all players with 1.88. It’s a number that shows Wright’s involvement.
However, he’s not happy with just scoring goals.
“Assists are something that I can improve in my game. I think I got six or seven last season, but even last game I had a few opportunities to pock other teammates out in promising positions that I wasn’t able to take so I’d love to improve on that,” Wright said on Morning Footy.
That level of being able to reflect on a performance, especially after a victory where he had a brace is impressive stuff. Wright is thriving in the move to being a winger for Coventry and it’s something that could push him into the starting XI for the United States men’s national team if he can continue this pace. With Christian Pulisic able to play as a number 10, it will provide flexibility to move Wright around in the attack.
Stock down: Ethan Horvath, Cardiff City
With Matt Turner benched for Nottingham Forest, it could be a chance for the starting role to be open for a keeper who decides to step up and take it, but the early going of the season hasn’t been good to Ethan Horvath and Cardiff City. With seven goals allowed in only two matches, Horvath has allowed the joint most goals in the Championship, while only facing eight shots on target. But that’s not the worst thing to come out of his performance for Cardiff. This is.
Horvath turned a simple back pass into an own goal to open the scoring only eight minutes into the match. While things like this can happen in the early going of the season, Horvath will need to shake it out sooner than later or a slim window into a future as the USMNT number one could be slipping away sooner than later.
Stock up: Gaga Slonina, Barnsley
As one keeper faltered, Gaga Slonina has used his move to Barnsley as a chance to shine. Making seven saves in a victory over Lincoln City, Slonina is showing what he can do at only 20. A player who needs starting minutes under pressure, Slonina will get just that in League One. Playing for a Barnsley side that are pushing for promotion, he’ll face plenty of meaningful shots and play matches every three to four days.
Continuing at his current pace, Slonina will push himself into contention for the starting role for the USMNT if he can continue his strong start to the season.
Stock down: Brenden Aaronson, Leeds
Two matches in for Leeds has been a tale of two Brenden Aaronsons. In their opener, he scored an equalizing goal but then missed a chance that would’ve won them the match. He then followed up that performance by coming off the bench for an anonymous performance as the Whites drew again, this time to Portsmouth. Despite the sales of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville, and Georgino Rutter, Aaronson still hasn’t made it back into the starting XI under Daniel Farke.
It’s too early to be concerned about playing time for the young midfielder, but with Leeds struggling early in the season, this is something to watch as play continues.
Stock up: Josh Sargent, Norwich City
It’s an American striker battle for promotion between Wright and Josh Sargent. Sargent had a goal and an assist for Norwich in a draw against Blackburn Rovers as he put in a complete performance from the nine. Expected to challenge for the Championship Golden Boot, the team around Sargent may not be in the best shape to start the season, but Sargent certainly is. He’ll have a lot to do in order to push Folarin Balogun atop the USMNT strike force but he’s doing what he can to remain in that conversation.
Notable American performances outside of the EFL
Mark McKenzie: Making a move to a top five league, McKenzie will be challenged in Ligue 1 with Toulouse. A team that allowed 46 goals in league play last season, the addition of McKenzie will help shore up their defense while also allowing him a chance to grow as he takes another step up. Already thriving, going from the Philadelphia Union to Genk, he’ll now be tested again in his next move. The spot next to Chris Richards is open for the USMNT, so if McKenzie can take his game to the next level, this could be enough to take it.
Yunus Musah: Milan may not be happy to have drawn their opening match against Torino, but it could’ve been worse without Musah’s assist to Noah Okafor deep into stoppage time. All American eyes might be on teammate Christian Pulisic, but after being introduced into the match, Musah’s work-rate went a long way to helping turn around Milan’s fortunes. Looking to impress new manager Paulo Fonseca, this is a step in the right direction to push for more starts.
