Americans Abroad roundup

A roundup of notable U.S. players in action over the last two weeks:

Empics

Cardiff's Eddie Johnson has yet to score a goal during his time in England.

England

Premier League

Brad Friedel, Aston Villa: Friedel went relatively untested against Portsmouth on Saturday in his second shutout of the season and first since the end of August. He was somewhat lucky in the 0-0 draw, too. Portsmouth fullback Armand Traore hit the post in the first half, and lethal striker Jermain Defoe failed to convert the rebound from four yards out.

Season: 12 games played (0 substitute appearances), 0 goals

Tim Howard, Everton: Everton's slump shows no sign of relenting. Howard conceded three more goals as the Toffees fell 3-1 to Arsenal. Criticized in the past few weeks for his lack of command in the box, Howard had no chance on any of the goals and made a pair of good saves to thwart Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas. Although he was tight at the back last season, Everton has allowed 18 goals in eight games, easily the worst defensive record in the Premier League.

Season: 11 (0)

Clint Dempsey, Fulham: Dempsey began on the bench for Fulham in a 0-0 draw against Sunderland but played the last 17 minutes at Craven Cottage. He can't be overly happy because he wreaked havoc and was arguably Fulham's best player when he made his first league start of the season against West Brom two weeks ago.

Season: 2 (3)

Brad Guzan, Aston Villa: Guzan is the undisputed No. 2 at Villa, and he backed up Friedel against Portsmouth.

Season: 1 (0)

Jonathan Spector, West Ham: Spector, who played midfield and defense for West Ham last season, continues to be sidelined by a hip injury. According to his agent, he hopes to return to the first team next month, which is earlier than expected. How long he'll remain in East London is anyone's guess. Reports suggest he's one of several players who might be sold in January to ease the Hammers' financial worries.

Season: No appearances

Championship

Jay DeMerit, Watford: Recently sidelined with a thigh injury, the Hornets' skipper missed Saturday's 3-0 win at Southampton because of a minor hamstring strain. "He's had a scan and is hopeful of a return soon," Watford's Web site reported.

Season: 9 (0)-0

Marcus Hahnemann, Reading: The international break came at the wrong time for Reading and for Hahnemann, the starting keeper. Hahnemann had a poor game in the 2-1 loss at Preston. His miscommunication with defender Ivar Ingimarsson allowed the home team to level in the second half. It was pure comedy, in fact. Minutes later, Hahnemann fluffed another high ball. Although the Royals had their three-game winning streak snapped, they remained in third place.

Season: 12 (0)

Bobby Convey, Reading: Hahnemann is a mainstay under manager Steve Coppell, but the same can't be said for winger Convey. He didn't make the squad against Preston, and the prospects look bleak thanks to Reading's depth in midfield. His last appearance came in the League Cup in late September.

Season: 5 (2)-0

Eddie Johnson, Cardiff City (loan from Fulham): The enigmatic striker is still seeking his first goal in English soccer after joining Fulham in January's transfer window. He played the final minute in Cardiff's 2-0 win over Charlton and hasn't started a league game this campaign.

Season: 2 (5)-0

Frankie Simek, Sheffield Wednesday: Wednesday's popular right back, who was out for most of the past 10 months after ankle surgery, returned to action in a reserve game against Bradford on Oct. 7 and suited up for the reserves again versus Lincoln City on Tuesday.

Season: No appearances

League One

Jemal Johnson, MK Dons: Johnson, a speedy forward, was an unused substitute in a 3-1 win over Carlisle on Oct. 11 and entered as a 72nd-minute sub in a 2-2 draw against Crewe on Saturday. Season: 4 (5)-0

Spain, Primera Liga

Jozy Altidore, Villarreal: The young striker made his second appearance for the Spanish leader since joining the team from the New York Red Bulls in the summer, playing the final 10 minutes in a 0-0 draw at Espanyol on Saturday. Earlier this week, when asked whether Villarreal had plans to loan him out, Altidore said he was unsure.

Season: 0 (2)-0

Italy, Serie B

Danny Szetela, Brescia (loan from Racing Santander): A new manager hadn't been good news for the central midfielder: Szetela didn't make the squad against Parma and Frosinone after the experienced Nedo Sonetti, who has coached about two dozen clubs, replaced Serse Cosmi at the Serie B giant. But he returned as a second-half sub against Triestina on Saturday and scored what turned out to be the winner in a 3-2 victory.

Season: 5 (1)-1

Serie C1

Gabriel Ferrari, Perugia (loan from Sampdoria): The striker didn't dress for Sunday's 1-0 win at Ternana.

Season: 0 (2)-0

Germany, Bundesliga

Steve Cherundolo, Hannover 96: Cherundolo, who has played at right back and in the center of defense this season, endured all 90 minutes of a 5-2 home loss to newly promoted Hoffenheim. The visitor scored four times in a 13-minute spell late in the second half to wipe out a 2-1 deficit.

Season: 6 (1)-0

Michael Bradley, Borussia Moenchengladbach: The international midfielder speculated that Christian Ziege's appointment as temporary manager would add to his playing time. As sporting director, the former Germany regular was instrumental in signing him. So it proved. Bradley played all 90 minutes in a 2-2 draw at Bochum on Friday, which ended a five-game losing streak for the relegation contenders. A telling contribution was a wonderful crossfield pass to striker Marko Marin.

Season: 2 (0)-0

Bryan Arguez, Hertha Berlin: Arguez, a midfielder, was an unused substitute in Hertha's 0-0 draw against St. Patricks in the UEFA Cup on Sept. 30, then didn't dress against Bayer Leverkusen on Oct. 4 and Stuttgart on Saturday in the Bundesliga.

Season: 0 (0)-0

Sal Zizzo, Hannover 96: The midfielder wasn't in the squad versus Hoffenheim.

Season: 0 (2)-0

France, Ligue 1

Freddy Adu, Monaco (loan from Benfica): Monaco lost a third straight match to Nice 2-1 at home and slipped closer to the relegation places. The forward saw eight minutes of action as a late substitute.

Season: 1 (5)-0

Carlos Bocanegra, Rennes: The bad news for Bocanegra and Rennes was elimination in the UEFA Cup courtesy of Steve McClaren's Twente Enschede early this month. The good news came three days later on Oct. 5, as Rennes stunned perennial league champion Lyon 3-0. With Bocanegra a starter once again, Rennes kept up the momentum with a 0-0 draw at Auxerre on Sunday, its fourth straight clean sheet in the division.

Season: 9 (1)-0

Belgium, Jupiler League

Oguchi Onyewu, Standard Liege: Fresh off a busy month, Onyewu was rested Saturday when the defending champion downed struggling Mons 2-1.

Season: 11 (1)-2

Sweden, Allsvenskan

Charlie Davies, Hammarby: Davies, playing up front, netted his first senior international goal in a 2-1 midweek loss to Trinidad and Tobago. Hammarby heads into Monday's game against Djurgarden winless in its past seven and scoreless in its past three, which should all but end any UEFA Cup hopes.

Season: 21 (1)-10

Colin Burns, Ljungskile: Burns was in goal as Ljungskile, trying to avoid relegation, lost 3-0 against surging Halmstads on Sunday. Season: 10 (1)-0

Etchu Tabe, Ljungskile: Tabe, a forward, joined Burns in the starting lineup against Halmstads.

Season: 14 (2)-0

Ryan Raybould, Gefle: Gefle visits Sundsvall in a vital six-pointer at the foot of the table Monday. Raybould, a defender, was an unused substitute against Ljungskile on Oct. 4.

Season: 4 (0)-0

Scotland, Premier League

DaMarcus Beasley, Rangers: The Rangers' match with Dundee United on Saturday was postponed as a mark of respect for United chairman Eddie Thompson, who succumbed to prostate cancer. Beasley, a forward, was on the bench Oct. 5, when Rangers were upset by St. Mirren 1-0.

Season: 2 (3)-0

Maurice Edu, Rangers: The 22-year-old midfielder made his lone appearance of the season in mid-September.

Season: 1 (0)-0

Denmark, Superligaen

Danny Califf, FC Midtjylland: Midtjylland and Califf, a starter in defense for the U.S. against Trinidad and Tobago midweek, host Aarhus on Monday. A win would see Midtjylland, which has dropped only two points in five home games this season, pull within three points of leader Odense.

Season: 10 games played, 0 goals

Jeremiah White, Aarhus: White, the nomadic forward, will hope to start Monday for injury-plagued Aarhus. Aarhus has struggled on the road, losing four of five fixtures in the topflight.

Season: 11 games played, 1 goal

Benny Feilhaber, Aarhus: The former Derby midfielder might be sidelined until the league's spring season after recently undergoing knee surgery.

Season: 1 game played, no goals

Lee Nguyen, Randers: The international midfielder, who scored in the Danish Cup at the end of September, wasn't used in Sunday's 1-1 tie versus Vejle. Randers are midtable but winless in their past seven league matches.

Season: 6 games played, 2 goals

Tally Hall, Esbjerg: Hall, still the backup to veteran Lars Winde in goal, didn't feature in last-place Esbjerg's 4-2 loss to Odense on Sunday.

Season: 1 game played

Ravi Ubha is a London-based freelance journalist covering Americans abroad for ESPNsoccernet. He also covers tennis for ESPN.com.