Cameron, Edu reunite at Stoke City; questions for Bocanegra, Dempsey

When Geoff Cameron and Maurice Edu were last spotted together on a soccer field, they were a key part of the United States' first win on Mexican soil, teaming in central defense to frustrate the likes of Javier Hernandez while holding down the fort in front of the stellar Tim Howard in the U.S. men's national team's 1-0 victory.

A couple of weeks later, Tony Pulis and the technical staff at Stoke City are putting their faith in the two of them helping the Potters to new heights as well, albeit from different places on the field. Cameron's seamless transition to Stoke's lineup just two days after arriving in England coupled with Edu's transfer from embattled Scottish club Rangers to Stoke has turned the eyes of U.S. soccer fans onto Staffordshire and Britannia Stadium, where the two begin cultivating a new American fanbase in the English Premier League.

Cameron looked right at home in central midfield against Arsenal in his debut, drawing rave reviews from Pulis, who is a believer that his stout play in MLS can translate to England's top tier.

"(Cameron) did exceptionally well in the circumstances, but we played three matches out in the States recently and we were very impressed with the standard of football," Pulis told Stoke's official website after Cameron's debut. "There is certainly a market out there."

Edu, once an MLS product himself, will join the club once all of his paperwork is completed and is expected to compete for time with Cameron, Dean Whitehead, Glenn Whelan and Honduran international Wilson Palacios at the same position. From a purely playing-time point of view, Stoke might not be the most ideal landing spot for Edu, but it is an escape from fourth-tier anonymity, and Pulis did refer to the versatility of both players upon their signings. The club's first-choice center back tandem of Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth seem pretty set in their roles, and veteran English defender Matthew Upson is an option there as well, but considering how well Cameron and Edu did for themselves against Mexico, Pulis would be wise to consider them also.

While Cameron and Edu have their club futures set with Friday's transfer deadline for most European countries rapidly approaching, two of the pillars for the U.S. men's national team still have major question marks next to their situations. Clint Dempsey continues to be frozen out at Fulham as the rumors swirl about his season ahead, and he has no leverage with him still being under contract while no satisfactory offers have come Fulham's way amid speculation tying him to Liverpool, Arsenal and even Sunderland. Carlos Bocanegra, meanwhile, continues to play for Rangers despite the club's low standing. With Edu and Alejandro Bedoya wisely leaving Rangers for top-flight opportunities, is Captain America really going to stay in the fourth tier of Scottish soccer in this most-important year of World Cup qualifying? It would be hard to fathom, and he could very well be on the move as well despite a rather dormant market for his services.

Another high-profile American likely to be on the move is Oguchi Onyewu, who is far from the given for Sporting Lisbon's first team that he was a season. After a rough national team showing in May and June, Onyewu is still trying to fight his way back onto Jurgen Klinsmann's radar, but his being left off Sporting Lisbon's teamsheet again on Monday adds credence and rationale to the Portuguese reports linking him to clubs in Spain and France. That the lumbering center back was sending non-game-related tweets during Sporting Lisbon's match on Monday is a further indication of someone who will not be staying put much longer.

Even though the big-name American transfers are snagging the headlines, important developments on the field involving Americans also took place this past week. Michael Bradley's AS Roma debut was an individual success, with Bradley going the distance and assisting on a late equalizer to help the club to a season-opening draw. Robbie Rogers was loaned from Leeds United to League One side Stevenage, where he made his debut under former Colorado Rapids coach Gary Smith. In Norway, speedy youngster Josh Gatt's career-high sixth goal of the season helped Molde reclaim first place as the club attempts to win consecutive titles. Those were some of the highlights of the week that was, and here is how the Americans playing abroad fared altogether (season statistics encompass all competitions):

Premier League

Geoff Cameron, D, Stoke City - Started, played 90 minutes in Stoke City's 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Clint Dempsey, M/F, Fulham - Not in the 18 for Fulham's 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Saturday.

SEASON: 0 games

Brad Friedel, GK, Tottenham - Started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Tottenham's 1-1 draw with West Brom on Saturday.

SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 3 goals allowed

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa - In the 18, did not play in Villa's 3-1 loss to Everton on Saturday.

SEASON: 0 games

Tim Howard, GK, Everton - Started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Everton's 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday.

SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 1 goal allowed, 1 clean sheet

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa - In the 18, came on as a 60th-minute substitute and assisted on a late consolation goal in Villa's 3-1 loss to Everton.

SEASON: 1 game

League Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County - In the 18, did not play in Derby County's 2-0 loss to Bolton on Tuesday. Doyle was also in the 18 but did not play in Derby's 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton on Saturday.

SEASON: 0 games

Robbie Findley, F, Nottingham Forest - Not in the 18 for Nottingham Forest's 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town on Tuesday or for Nottingham Forest's 2-2 draw with Bolton on Friday.

SEASON: 0 games

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton - Not in the 18 for Bolton's 2-0 victory over Derby County on Tuesday or for Bolton's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Friday.

SEASON: 0 games

Will Packwood, M/D, Birmingham City - In the 18, did not play in Birmingham's 3-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday. Packwood was not in the 18 for Birmingham's 2-0 loss to Watford on Saturday.

SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts

Tim Ream, D, Bolton - In the 18, did not play in Bolton's 2-0 victory over Derby County and in Bolton's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Jonathan Spector, D, Birmingham City - Started, played 90 minutes in Birmingham's 3-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday and in Birmingham's 2-0 loss to Watford.

SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts

Zak Whitbread, D, Leicester City - Not in the 18 for Leicester City's 2-1 loss to Charlton Athletic on Tuesday or for Leicester City's 2-1 loss to Blackburn on Saturday..

SEASON: 0 games

League One

Mike Grella, F, Scunthorpe United - Started, played 90 minutes and scored a 15th-minute goal in Scunthorpe's 2-1 loss to Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday. The goal was Grella's second in three matches with his new club and pulled Scunthorpe even at the time. Grella also started and played 90 minutes in Scunthorpe's 4-0 loss to Yeovil Town on Saturday.

SEASON: 4 games, 4 starts, 2 goals

Robbie Rogers, M, Stevenage - In the 18, came on as a 79th-minute substitute in Stevenage's 1-0 victory over Oldham Athletic on Saturday. Rogers was loaned to Stevenage from Leeds United until the end of 2012. According to a source with knowledge of the deal, Stevenage will have an option to purchase his rights outright from Leeds United at the end of the loan.

SEASON: 1 game

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United - Started, played 90 minutes in Carlisle's 3-0 loss to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday and in Carlisle's 4-2 victory over Portsmouth on Saturday.

SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts

Bundesliga

Timmy Chandler, D, FC Nurnberg - Started, played 90 minutes in Nurnberg's 1-0 victory over Hamburg on Saturday.

SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 - Started, played 90 minutes and assisted on the opening goal of Hannover's 5-3 victory over Slask Wroclaw in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Cherundolo also started and played 90 minutes in Hannover's 2-2 draw with Schalke in league play on Sunday.

SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts

Joe Gyau, M, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Not in the 18 for Hoffenheim's 2-1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.

SEASON: 0 games

Fabian Johnson, D, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Started, played 90 minutes in Hoffenheim's 2-1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.

SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 - Started, played 90 minutes, picked up a yellow card and assisted on his club's second goal with an accurate cross from the right in Schalke's 2-2 draw with Hannover 96 on Sunday.

SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Danny Williams, M, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - In the 18, did not play in Hoffenheim's 2-1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.

SEASON: 0 games

David Yelldell, GK, Bayer Leverkusen - In the 18, did not play in Leverkusen's 2-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

SEASON: 0 games

2. Bundesliga

John Anthony Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin - Not in the 18 for Berlin's 2-1 victory over Jahn Regensburg on Friday.

SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts

Alfredo Morales, D, Hertha Berlin - Not in the 18 for Berlin's 2-1 victory over Jahn Regensburg.

SEASON: 1 game

Andrew Wooten, F, Sandhausen - In the 18, did not play in Sandhausen's 2-0 victory over Union Berlin on Friday. Wooten was loaned to Sandhausen from Kaiserslautern for the entire season after excelling with the club's reserve team but being unable to break into the first team.

SEASON: 0 games

Serie A

Michael Bradley, M, AS Roma - Started, played 90 minutes, picked up a yellow card and assisted on the late equalizer in Roma's 2-2 draw with Catania on Sunday. Bradley lobbed an accurate ball into the area for Nicolas Lopez, who volleyed it to himself before leveling the score from close range in stoppage time.

SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Eredivisie

Jozy Altidore, F, AZ Alkmaar - Started, played 90 minutes in AZ's 1-0 loss to Anzhi Makhachkala in the first leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Altidore also started, played 81 minutes and hit the post with a chance in AZ's 0-0 draw with Heerenveen in league play on Sunday.

SEASON: 4 games, 4 starts, 4 goals

Pro League

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht - Started, played 90 minutes in Anderlecht's 2-1 loss to AEL Limassol in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League final qualifying round tie on Wednesday. Kljestan also started and 90 minutes in Anderlecht's 1-1 draw with OH Leuven in league play Saturday.

SEASON: 8 games, 3 starts, 1 goal

Primeira Liga

Oguchi Onyewu, D, Sporting Lisbon - Not in the 18 for Sporting's 1-1 draw with Horsens in the first leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday or for Sporting's 1-0 loss to Rio Ave in league play on Monday.

SEASON: 0 games

Caleb Patterson-Sewell, GK, Vitoria Setubal - Started, played 90 minutes in Vitoria Setbual's 5-0 loss to Benfica on Sunday.

SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 7 goals allowed

Tony Taylor, F, Estoril Praia - In the 18, came on as a halftime substitute in Estoril's 1-1 draw with Pacos de Ferreira on Sunday.

SEASON: 2 games, 1 start

Bundesliga

Terrence Boyd, F, Rapid Vienna - In the 18, came on as an 82nd-minute substitute in Rapid Vienna's 2-1 loss to PAOK in the first leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Boyd started and played 90 minutes in Rapid Vienna's 1-0 loss to Wolfsberger AC in league play on Sunday.

SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts, 3 goals

Third Division

Carlos Bocanegra, D, Rangers - Started, played 90 minutes in Rangers' 1-0 victory over Falkirk in the second round of the Scottish League Challenge Cup on Tuesday. Bocanegra also started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Rangers' 1-1 draw with Berwick Rangers in league play on Sunday.

SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts

Liga MX

DaMarcus Beasley, M, Puebla - Not in the 18 for Puebla's 2-0 victory over Lobos BUAP in the Copa MX on Tuesday. Beasley started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Puebla's 1-0 victory over San Luis in league play on Sunday.

SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts

Jonathan Bornstein, D, Tigres UANL - Not in the 18 for Tigres' 1-1 draw with Toluca on Saturday.

SEASON: 1 game

Edgar Castillo, D, Tijuana - Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 2-1 victory over Celaya in the Copa MX on Tuesday. Castillo started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Tijuana's 1-0 victory over Club America in league play on Saturday.

SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts

Joe Corona, M, Tijuana - Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 2-1 victory over Celaya. Corona started and played 80 minutes in Tijuana's 1-0 victory over Club America.

SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts

Michael Orozco Fiscal, D, San Luis - Not in the 18 for San Luis' 1-0 loss to Necaxa in the Copa MX on Tuesday. Orozco Fiscal started and played 90 minutes in San Luis' 1-0 loss to Puebla in league play on Sunday.

SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 1 goal

Greg Garza, D, Tijuana - Started, played 90 mintues in Tijuana's 2-1 victory over Celaya. Garza was not in the 18 for Tijuana's 1-0 victory over Club America.

SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts

Herculez Gomez, F, Santos Laguna - In the 18, did not play in Santos Laguna's 0-0 draw with Pachuca on Saturday.

SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts, 2 goals

Alejandro Guido, M, Tijuana - Started, played 71 minutes in Tijuana's 2-1 victory over Celaya to make his professional debut. Guido was not in the 18 for Tijuana's 1-0 victory over Club America.

SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Jose Francisco Torres, M, Pachuca - Not in the 18 for Pachuca's 1-1 draw with La Piedad in the Copa MX on Tuesday. Torres started and played 90 minutes in Pachuca's 0-0 draw with Santos Laguna in league play on Saturday.

SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 1 goal

Superliga

Charlie Davies, F, Randers - In the 18, came on as a 90th-minute substitute in Randers 3-2 loss to FC Copenhagen on Saturday.

SEASON: 6 games

Clarence Goodson, D, Brondby - Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Brondby's 1-1 draw with Esbjerg on Sunday.

SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 1 goal

Conor O'Brien, F, Sonderjyske - Started, played 90 minutes in Sonderjyske's 4-1 loss to Nordsjaelland on Friday.

SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 2 goals

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Nordsjaelland - Started, played 90 minutes and assisted on a goal in Nordsjaelland's 4-1 victory over Sonderjyske on Friday.

SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts, 2 goals

Tippeligaen

Chad Barrett, F, Valerenga - Started, played 64 minutes in Valerenga's 2-0 loss to Molde on Sunday.

SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts

Steve Clark, GK, Honefoss - Started, played 90 minutes in Honefoss' 1-0 loss to Tromso on Sunday.

SEASON: 20 games, 20 starts, 22 goals allowed, 7 clean sheets

Sean Cunningham, D, Stabaek - Not in the 18 for Stabaek's 4-1 loss to Haugesund on Sunday.

SEASON: 21 games, 21 starts

Mix Diskerud, M, Rosenborg - Started, played 90 minutes in Rosenborg's 1-1 draw with Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Diskerud also started and played 90 minutes in Rosenborg's 1-1 draw with Viking in league play on Sunday.

SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts

Josh Gatt, M, Molde - Started, played 82 minutes in Molde's 2-0 victory over Heerenveen in the first leg of their Europa League final qualifying round tie on Thursday. Gatt also started, played 62 minutes and scored a third-minute goal in Molde's 2-0 victory over Valerenga in league play on Sunday. Gatt used his trademark speed to split two defenders and run onto a long ball down the center of the field before finishing from close range at a right-sided angle.

SEASON: 18 games, 15 starts, 6 goals

Allsvenskan

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Helsingborg IF - Started, played 90 minutes in Helsingborg's 2-0 loss to Celtic in the first leg of their Champions League final qualifying round tie on Tuesday. Bedoya was in the 18, came on as a 53rd-minute substitute and picked up a yellow card in Helsingborg's 3-1 loss to Djurgarden on Saturday.

SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts, 1 goal

Brian Span, M, Djurgarden IF - In the 18, did not play in Djurgarden's 3-1 victory over Helsingborg on Saturday.

SEASON: 5 games, 1 start, 1 goal