In addition to Dempsey, Altidore, young Americans make statements

Following a week when U.S. men's national team stalwarts Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore added more landmark goals to their lofty resumes -- Dempsey's first Tottenham goal delivered Spurs their first win at Old Trafford in 23 years, and Altidore performed a skill check with his hold, turn, slalom dribble and strike for his Eredivisie-leading eighth goal of the season -- the next generation of American talent has quietly gone about its business climbing the career ladder.

Birmingham's Will Packwood and Santos Laguna's Benji Joya not only share teams with veteran Americans (Packwood with Jonathan Spector and Joya with Herculez Gomez), but they are also beginning to receive valuable, meaningful minutes at extremely early junctures in their careers for teams with lofty aspirations. For Birmingham, this season is all about promotion and reclaiming a place in the Premier League. For Santos, winning another Mexican league title and winning the CONCACAF Champions League are both attainable goals. Both players will ultimately have something to say about all of those tasks, a harbinger of things to come for a pair of 19-year-olds who will don the national team colors on the youth level in the next couple weeks.

Both were selected by U.S. Under-20 coach Tab Ramos for this month's Marbella Cup in Spain, a tournament where the U.S. U-20s will play friendlies against Canada, Scotland and Azerbaijan as part of its preparations for February's CONCACAF U-20 championship -- which doubles as a qualifier for next summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup. Packwood and Joya, about whom Gomez has raved, are not the only progressing foreign-based Americans who will be part of Ramos' roster over the next couple of weeks. John Anthony Brooks, a towering, 19-year-old center back with dual German-American eligibility, is becoming a fixture for Hertha Berlin's matchday roster in Germany's second tier. Marc Pelosi, a former U.S. U-17 captain coming off a knee injury, is being brought along in the Liverpool youth system. Mexico-based forward Daniel Cuevas (who teams with Joya and Gomez), left back Juan Pablo Ocegueda (Tigres UANL), Germany-based midfielder Caleb Stanko (SC Freiburg) and forwards Mario Rodriguez (Kaiserslautern) and Jerome Kiesewetter (Stuttgart) are being brought along at their clubs as well. So as much of the attention continues to revolve around the likes of Dempsey, Altidore and the other U.S. national team standouts of the present, keep an eye on the future of U.S. Soccer.

In addition to Dempsey and Altidore, Fabian Johnson, Mix Diskerud and Timmy Chandler all found the back of the net this past week to headline the performances for the Americans playing abroad. Here is how all fared (season statistics encompass all competitions):

Premier League

Geoff Cameron, D/M, Stoke City - Started, played 90 minutes in Stoke City's 2-0 victory over Swansea City on Saturday.SEASON: 6 games, 5 starts

Cody Cropper, GK, Southampton - Not in the 18 for Southampton's 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday or for Southampton's 3-1 loss to Everton in league play on Saturday.SEASON: 0 games

Clint Dempsey, M/F, Tottenham - Started, played 75 minutes in Tottenham's 3-0 victory over Carlisle United in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Dempsey also started, played 70 minutes and scored the eventual game-winning goal in Tottenham's 3-2 victory over Manchester United on Saturday. Dempsey pounced on a rebound of a saved shot and slotted it home into an empty net to secure Tottenham's first league win at Old Trafford in 23 years.SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts, 1 goal

Maurice Edu, D/M, Stoke City - In the 18, did not play in Stoke City's 2-0 victory over Swansea City.SEASON: 0 games

Brad Friedel, GK, Tottenham - Not in the 18 for Tottenham's 3-0 victory over Carlisle United in the third round of the League Cup. Started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Tottenham's 3-2 victory over Manchester United.SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 8 goals allowed

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa - In the 18, did not play in Villa's 4-2, extra-time victory over Manchester City in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Guzan started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Villa's 1-1 draw with West Brom in league play on Sunday.SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts, 6 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

Tim Howard, GK, Everton - In the 18, did not play in Everton's 2-1 loss to Leeds United in the third round of the League Cup on Tuesday. Howard started, played 90 minutes and made four saves in Everton's 3-1 victory over Southampton in league play on Saturday.SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 6 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa - In the 18, came on as an 86th-minute substitute in Villa's 4-2, extra-time victory over Manchester City in the third round of the League Cup. Lichaj was in the 18, but did not play in Villa's 1-1 draw with West Brom in league play.SEASON: 6 games, 4 starts

League Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County - Not in the 18 for Derby County's 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.SEASON: 2 games, 1 start

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton - Not in the 18 for Bolton's 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday.SEASON: 0 games

Will Packwood, D/M, Birmingham City - Started, played 81 minutes in Birmingham's 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts

Tim Ream, D, Bolton - In the 18, did not play in Bolton's 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace.SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts

Jonathan Spector, D/M, Birmingham City - Started, played 90 minutes in Birmingham's 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.SEASON: 9 games, 8 starts, 1 goal

Zak Whitbread, D, Leicester City - In the 18, did not play in Leicester City's 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday.SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

League One

Mike Grella, F, Scunthorpe United - In the 18, came on late in second-half stoppage time in Scunthorpe's 2-1 loss to Portsmouth on Saturday.SEASON: 9 games, 7 starts, 2 goals

Robbie Rogers, M, Stevenage - Not in the 18 for Stevenage's 2-2 draw with Bury on Saturday.SEASON: 4 games, 3 starts

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United - Started, played 90 minutes in Carlisle United's 3-0 loss to Tottenham in the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday. Simek also started and played 90 minutes in Carlisle's 2-0 loss to Crawley Town in league play on Saturday.SEASON: 9 games, 8 starts

Bundesliga

Timmy Chandler, D, FC Nurnberg - Started, played 90 minutes and scored a consolation goal in Nurnberg's 4-1 loss to Hannover on Wednesday. Chandler also started and played 90 minutes in Nurnberg's 2-0 loss to Stuttgart on Saturday.SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 1 goal

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 - Started, played 90 minutes in Hannover's 4-1 victory over FC Nurnberg on Wednesday. Cherundolo also started and played 90 minutes in Hannover's 1-0 loss to Hamburg SV on Saturday.SEASON: 12 games, 12 starts

Fabian Johnson, D, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Started, played 90 minutes and scored the final goal of Hoffenheim's 3-0 victory over Stuttgart on Wednesday for his second goal in as many weeks, finishing into an empty net following up a saved shot after he embarked on what has become a trademark long forward run down the left flank. Johnson also started and played 90 minutes in Hoffenheim's 0-0 draw with Augsburg on Saturday.SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 2 goals

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 - Not in the 18 for Schalke's 3-0 victory over Mainz 05 on Tuesday. Jones started, played 73 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Schalke's 2-2 draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday.SEASON: 6 games, 6 starts, 1 goal

Danny Williams, M, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Hoffenheim's 3-0 victory over Stuttgart and in Hoffenheim's 0-0 draw with Augsburg.SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts, 1 goal

2. Bundesliga

John Anthony Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin - In the 18, came on as an 85th-minute substitute in Berlin's 1-0 victory over Dynamo Dresden on Wednesday and in Berlin's 2-2 draw with MSV Duisburg on Monday.SEASON: 5 games, 2 starts

Joe Gyau, M, St. Pauli - In the 18, came on as a halftime substitute in St. Paul's 1-0 loss to Aalen on Tuesday. Gyau was also in the 18 but did not play in St. Pauli's 3-0 loss to Jahn Regensburg on Friday.SEASON: 1 game

Alfredo Morales, D, Hertha Berlin - Not in the 18 for Berlin's 1-0 victory over Dynamo Dresden or for Berlin's 2-2 draw with MSV Duisburg.SEASON: 1 game

Andrew Wooten, F, SV Sandhausen - In the 18, did not play in Sandhausen's 2-1 loss to Jahn Regensburg on Tuesday and in Sandhausen's 4-0 loss to TSV 1860 Munich on Saturday.SEASON: 2 games

Serie A

Michael Bradley, M, AS Roma - In the 18, did not play in Roma's 1-1 draw with Sampdoria on Wednesday. Bradley was not in the 18 for Roma's 4-1 loss to Juventus on Saturday.SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Primera Division

Oguchi Onyewu, D, Malaga - In the 18, did not play in Malaga's 4-0 victory over Real Betis on Saturday.SEASON: 0 games

Segunda Division

Carlos Bocanegra, D, Racing Santander - Started, played 90 minutes in Racing Santander's 1-1 draw with Numancia on Saturday.SEASON: 9 games, 9 starts (7 games, 7 starts with Rangers)

Eredivisie

Jozy Altidore, F, AZ Alkmaar - Started, played 90 minutes and converted a late penalty kick in AZ's 4-1 victory over Veendam in the second round of the KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) on Thursday. Altidore also started, played 90 minutes, scored a goal and assisted on the game-tying tally in AZ's 3-3 draw with RKC Waalwijk in league play on Sunday. Altidore received the ball with his back to goal, turned and weaved through three defenders before lacing a shot from the top of the area for his goal, and he squared a header inside the area for the assist that salvaged a point for AZ.SEASON: 10 games, 10 starts, 9 goals

Pro League

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht - Started, played 90 minutes in Anderlecht's 2-0 victory over Boussu Dour Borinage in the sixth round of the Belgian Cup on Wednesday. Kljestan was in the 18, but did not play in Anderlecht's 3-0 victory over Lokeren in league play on Saturday.SEASON: 14 games, 8 starts, 1 goal

Primeira Liga

Caleb Patterson-Sewell, GK, Vitoria Setubal - Not in the 18 for Vitoria Setubal's 1-1 draw with Beira-Mar on Sunday.SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts, 7 goals allowed

Tony Taylor, F, Estoril Praia - In the 18, did not play in Estoril's 2-2 draw with Sporting Lisbon on Saturday.SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts

Bundesliga

Terrence Boyd, F, Rapid Vienna - Started, played 86 minutes in Rapid Vienna's 4-1 victory over Allerheiligen in the second round of the Austrian Cup on Wednesday. Boyd also started, played 60 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Rapid Vienna's 2-0 victory over Wacker Innsbruck in league play on Saturday.SEASON: 14 games, 13 starts, 6 goals

Liga MX

DaMarcus Beasley, M, Puebla - Started, played 68 minutes in Puebla's 2-1 loss to Pumas UNAM on Sunday.SEASON: 11 games, 11 starts

Jonathan Bornstein, D, Tigres UANL - Not in the 18 for Tigres' 0-0 draw with San Luis on Saturday.SEASON: 2 games, 1 start

Edgar Castillo, D, Tijuana - Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 5-5 draw (lost 7-6 in penalty kicks) with Correcaminos UAT in the quarterfinals of the Copa MX on Wednesday. Castillo started and played 90 minutes in Tijuana's 1-0 victory over Queretaro in league play on Saturday.SEASON: 9 games, 9 starts

Joe Corona, M, Tijuana - Started, played 90 minutes in Tijuana's 5-5 draw (lost 7-6 in penalty kicks) with Correcaminos UAT in the quarterfinals of the Copa MX. Corona was in the 18, but did not play in Tijuana's 1-0 victory over Queretaro in league play.SEASON: 11 games, 9 starts

Michael Orozco Fiscal, D, San Luis - Started, played 90 minutes in San Luis' 3-2 loss to Dorados in the quarterfinals of the Copa MX on Tuesday. Orozco Fiscal was in the 18 and came on as an 80th-minute substitute in San Luis' 0-0 draw with Tigres UANL in league play on Saturday.SEASON: 10 games, 8 starts, 1 goal

Greg Garza, D, Tijuana - Started, played 60 minutes in Tijuana's 5-5 draw (lost 7-6 in penalty kicks) with Correcaminos UAT in the quarterfinals of the Copa MX. Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 1-0 victory over Queretaro in league play.SEASON: 9 games, 7 starts

Herculez Gomez, F, Santos Laguna - In the 18, did not play in Santos' 3-1 victory over Atlante on Sunday.SEASON: 8 games, 6 starts, 2 goals

Benji Joya, M, Santos Laguna - In the 18, came on as a 69th-minute substitute in Santos' 3-1 victory over Atlante.SEASON: 2 games

Jose Francisco Torres, M, Pachuca - Not in the 18 for Pachuca's 1-1 draw (lost 4-3 in penalty kicks) with Toros Neza in the quarterfinals of the Copa MX on Wednesday. Torres was in the 18 and came on as a 64th-minute substitute in Pachuca's 1-0 victory over Chivas de Guadalajara in league play on Saturday.SEASON: 10 games, 9 starts, 2 goals

Superliga

Charlie Davies, F, Randers - Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Randers' 2-1 victory over Naestved in the third round of the DBU Pokalen (Danish Cup) on Tuesday. Davies was in the 18 but did not play in Randers' 3-2 victory over Brondby in league play on Sunday.SEASON: 10 games, 2 starts

Clarence Goodson, D, Brondby - Not in the 18 for Brondby's 3-0 victory over B 93 in the third round of the Danish Cup on Wednesday. Goodson was suspended for Brondby's 3-2 loss to Randers in league play on Sunday after being red carded in his previous league match.SEASON: 9 games, 9 starts, 1 goal

Conor O'Brien, F, Sonderjyske - Started, played 90 minutes in Sonderjyske's 3-1 victory over FC Midtjylland on Monday.SEASON: 11 games, 11 starts, 3 goals

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Nordsjaelland - Not in the 18 for Nordsjaelland's 3-1 victory over Svebolle in the third round of the Danish Cup on Tuesday. Parkhurst started, played 90 minutes and assisted on the second goal in Nordsjaelland's 3-0 victory over Esbjerg in league play on Friday. Parkhurst slotted a short pass from the right flank to Kasper Lorentzen, who finished from the top of the area.SEASON: 10 games, 10 starts, 2 goals

Tippeligaen

Chad Barrett, F, Valerenga - In the 18, did not play in Valerenga's 2-1 victory over Fredrikstad on Monday.SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts

Steve Clark, GK, Honefoss - Started, played 90 minutes and earned the clean sheet in Honefoss' 0-0 draw with Sogndal on Sunday.SEASON: 24 games, 24 starts, 29 goals allowed, 8 clean sheets

Sean Cunningham, D, Stabaek - Not in the 18 for Stabaek's 4-3 loss to Molde on Sunday.SEASON: 21 games, 21 starts

Mix Diskerud, M, Rosenborg - Started, played 90 minutes, picked up a yellow card and scored the final goal of Rosenborg's 5-2 victory over Haugesund on Friday. Diskerud made a darting run down the center and was the beneficiary of a cross from the right, one-timing home from close range to cap the scoring.SEASON: 9 games, 8 starts, 2 goals

Josh Gatt, M, Molde - In the 18, did not play in Molde's 2-1 loss to Tromso in the semifinals of the NM Cupen (Norwegian Cup) on Wednesday. Gatt was not in the 18 for Molde's 4-3 victory over Stabaek in league play on Sunday.SEASON: 20 games, 17 starts, 6 goals

Allsvenskan

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Helsingborg IF - Not in the 18 for Helsinborg's 2-2 draw with Hacken on Thursday. Bedoya started, played 90 minutes and assisted on the final goal in Helsingborg's 3-0 victory over Atvidaberg on Sunday. Bedoya embarked on a long run down the left flank before cutting centrally a slotting through ball ahead for Nikola Durdic, who scored.SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts, 1 goal

Brian Span, M, Djurgarden IF - In the 18, came on as an 82nd-minute substitute in Djurgarden's 2-1 loss to Atvidaberg on Wednesday. Span started and played 52 minutes in Djurgarden's 1-0 loss to Mjallby on Monday.SEASON: 9 games, 2 starts, 1 goal