Spector strikes for West Ham; Buddle on the move to Germany

The winter transfer season is in full swing, and plenty of Americans have had their names tossed around in the daily rumor mill in one form or another, for better or for worse.

First the good: Oguchi Onyewu may see playing time this season after all. Yet to make a gameday roster for AC Milan, Onyewu isheading to Dutch side FC Twente on loan for the remainder of the 2010-2011 campaign, according to various reports. Considering the fact that Onyewu's only match time since he tore his patellar tendon in October, 2009, has been for the United States national team, a loan is a must and has been for quite some time.

Now the bad: Aston Villa acquired England U-21 right back Kyle Walker on loan from Tottenham for the rest of the season, which can't be a promising sign for up-and-coming U.S. national team fullback Eric Lichaj. After making some headway and earning a few starts at right back, Lichaj appears to have fallen out of favor with manager Gerard Houllier and might benefit from a loan himself. He spent the bulk of last year on loan with Lincoln City and Leyton Orient and may have a better shot at accruing more matches if he goes that route again.

Elsewhere of note, Germany's second division could be swapping one American striker for another, as Los Angeles Galaxy strikerEdson Buddle signed with FC Ingolstadt 04 on Monday, and reports suggest that TSV 1860 Munich forward Kenny Cooper may return to Major League Soccer with the expansion Portland Timbers.

Buddle might not be the only American headed to Ingolstadt, either. The 2. Bundesliga bottom feeder also had Freddy Adu in for a trial through the weekend, and the club has extended a reserve team offer to the midfielder, who could certainly benefit from consistent playing time after seemingly being stuck in perpetual career purgatory.

Other names of U.S. national team players to keep in mind during transfer season include Jonathan Spector, who helped his own value by scoring again for West Ham in a central midfield role in Saturday's FA Cup win over Barnsley, and Benny Feilhaber, who has been seeking a move from Denmark's second tier to a top fligh leaguet. With Spector being linked to FC Cologne in Germany and Feilhaber's name connected to clubs in Europe, Mexico and Brazil, it wouldn't be surprising to see either in a new uniform in the coming weeks.

As for the Americans playing abroad who were in action over the past week, including those that kicked off the 2011 Mexican Clausura, here's how they fared (season statistics encompass all competitions):

Premier League

Clint Dempsey, M/F, Fulham: Started, played 87 minutes and scored a 56th-minute goal in Fulham's 3-0 victory over West Brom on Tuesday. Dempsey got onto the end of a Simon Davies corner kick and headed the ball home from close range to pad Fulham's lead at 2-0. Dempsey also started and played 61 minutes in Fulham's 6-2 victory over Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. SEASON: 24 games, 21 starts, 7 goals

Brad Friedel, GK, Aston Villa: Started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Villa's 1-0 loss to Sunderland on Wednesday. Friedel also started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Villa's 3-1 victory over Sheffield United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. SEASON: 23 games, 23 starts, 74 saves, 40 goals allowed, 4 clean sheets

Marcus Hahnemann, GK, Wolverhampton: In the 18, did not play in Wolves' 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday. Hahnemann started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Wolves' 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. The tie forced a replay between the clubs that will be played on Jan. 18. The action was Hahnemann's first since being stripped of his starting duties in November, but Wayne Hennessey is still expected to be the team's designated starter in league play. SEASON: 15 games, 15 starts, 48 saves, 27 goals allowed

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton: Not in the 18 for Bolton's 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic on Wednesday or for Bolton's 2-0 victory over York City in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. Holden is recovering from what has been deemed a minor thigh injury. SEASON: 18 games, 17 starts, 2 goals

Tim Howard, GK, Everton: Started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Everton's 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday. Howard also started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Everton's 5-1 victory over Scunthorpe United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. SEASON: 22 games, 22 starts, 53 saves, 26 goals allowed, 5 clean sheets

Eddie Johnson, F, Fulham: In the 18, came on as an 87th-minute substitute in Fulham's 3-0 victory over West Brom on Tuesday. Johnson was also in the 18 but did not play in Fulham's 6-2 victory over Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. SEASON: 12 games, 1 start

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa: In the 18, did not play in Villa's 1-0 loss to Sunderland on Wednesday. Lichaj wasn't in the 18 for Villa's 3-1 victory over Sheffield United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 6 starts

Jonathan Spector, M/D, West Ham: In the 18, did not play in West Ham's 5-0 loss to Newcastle on Wednesday. Spector started, played 90 minutes and scored the opening goal in the 30th minute of West Ham's 2-0 victory over Barnsley in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. Spector did well to latch onto a deflected shot, took a touch to split two defenders and finished from close range with his right foot. SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts, 3 goals

Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County: Not in the 18 for Derby County's 2-1 loss to Crawley Town in the third round of the FA Cup on Monday. Doyle is currently training with the United States Under-20 national team in Florida. SEASON: 11 games, 4 starts

Brad Guzan, GK, Hull City: Not in the 18 for Hull City's 3-2 loss to Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. Guzan was prohibited from playing to avoid him from being cup-tied to Hull City. SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts, 24 saves, 8 goals allowed

Zak Whitbread, D, Norwich City: Started, played 90 minutes in Norwich City's 1-0 loss to Leyton Orient in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts

League One

Mike Grella, F, Carlisle United: Not in the 18 for Carlisle's 1-0 loss to Torquay United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. Grella's loan with Carlisle expired, but the team is in talks with parent club Leeds United in hopes of extending his stay. SEASON: 12 games, 7 starts, 3 goals

Jemal Johnson, M, Milton Keynes Dons: Not in the 18 for Milton Keynes Dons' 1-1 draw with Exeter City on Saturday. SEASON: 16 games, 5 starts, 1 goal

Anton Peterlin, M, Plymouth Argyle: In the 18, did not play in Plymouth Argyle's 3-2 victory over Bristol City on Tuesday. Peterlin was also in the 18 but did not play in Plymouth Argyle's 3-0 loss to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday. SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United: Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Carlisle's 1-0 loss to Torquay United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday. SEASON: 26 games, 26 starts

La Liga

Jozy Altidore, F, Villarreal: In the 18, did not play in Villarreal's 4-2 second-leg victory (4-2 aggregate) over Valencia in the Copa del Rey on Thursday. Villarreal advanced to the semifinals, where it will meet Sevilla. Altidore was also in the 18 but did not play in Villarreal's 4-2 loss to Real Madrid in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 12 games, 6 starts, 2 goals

Serie A

Oguchi Onyewu, D, AC Milan: Not in the 18 for Milan's 1-0 victory over Cagliari on Thursday or for Milan's 4-4 draw with Udinese on Sunday. SEASON: 0 games

Ligue 1

Carlos Bocanegra, D, St. Etienne: Started, played 64 minutes in St. Etienne's 2-0 loss to Clermont on the Coupe de France on Saturday. SEASON: 17 games, 17 starts, 1 goal

Charlie Davies, F, FC Sochaux: Not in the 18 for Sochaux's 1-0 victory over Jarville in the Coupe de France on Saturday. Sochaux advanced to the Round of 32 with the win. SEASON: 0 games

Liga de Honra

Bryan Arguez, M, G.D. Estoril Praia: Not in the 18 for Estoril's 1-0 loss to Feirense on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Greg Garza, D, G.D. Estoril Praia: Not in the 18 for Estoril's 1-0 loss to Feirense on Saturday. Garza is currently training with the U.S. U-20s. SEASON: 1 game

Tony Taylor, F, G.D. Estoril Praia: In the 18, came on as a 61st-minute substitute in Estoril's 1-0 loss to Feirense on Saturday. SEASON: 14 games, 2 starts, 4 goals

Premier League

Maurice Edu, M, Rangers FC: In the 18, came on as a 67th-minute substitute in Rangers' 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Monday. The appearance was Edu's first since injuring his knee in an Oct. 11 league match. SEASON: 18 games, 15 starts, 2 goals

First Division

Dominic Cervi, GK, Dundee FC: Not in the 18 for Dundee's 4-0 loss to Motherwell in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Sunday. Cervi is currently training with the U.S. U-20s. SEASON: 0 games

Super League

Freddy Adu, F, Aris Salonika: Not in the 18 for Aris' 1-0 victory over Kavala on Tuesday or for Aris' 1-0 loss to Panathinaikos on Saturday. Adu was on trial with 2. Bundesliga side FC Ingolstadt 04 last week and could sign with the club. SEASON: 0 games

Primera Division

Daniel Antunez, M/D, Estudiantes Tecos: Started, played 68 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Tecos' 4-1 loss to Cruz Azul on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Jonathan Bornstein, D, Tigres UANL: Not in the 18 for UANL's 2-2 draw with Queretaro on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Edgar Castillo, D, Puebla: Started, played the first half and picked up a yellow card in Puebla's 1-1 draw with Chivas de Guadalajara on Sunday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Herculez Gomez, F, Pachuca: In the 18, came on as a 69th-minute substitute in Pachuca's 2-0 victory over America on Sunday. SEASON: 1 game

Sonny Guadarrama, M, Atlante: In the 18, came on as a 65th-minute substitute in Atlante's 2-1 loss to Santos Lagnua on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game

Sammy Ochoa, F, Estudiantes Tecos: Not in the 18 for Tecos' 4-1 loss to Cruz Azul on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Jose Francisco Torres, M, Pachuca: Not in the 18 for Pachuca's 2-0 victory over America on Sunday. SEASON: 0 games