USMNT Player Tracker: The rise of Robinson, injury issues and a rejuvenated Reyna?

Ups and downs in Italia, Antonee Robinson’s plaudits and Gio Reyna’s milestone all play a part in this week’s USMNT tracker.

We will be bringing you updates on the USMNT players plying their trade in various leagues around Europe. With a home-soil World Cup on the horizon, we’re keeping tabs on how they perform every weekend.

Issue of the weekend

From Champions League highs to frustrating Serie A lows, it was a rollercoaster week for Weston McKennie and Italy’s other USMNT stars.

At least things are rarely dull, as McKennie and Tim Weah went from playing a sensational part in Juventus’s 2-0 win over Manchester City in Europe to being unable to help the Turin giants beat bottom-of-the-table Venezia.

It was their compatriot Gianluca Busio who had more reason for satisfaction at the end of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at the Allianz Stadium, with the 22-year-old and his battling Venezia team-mates only denied a shock win at the end by Dusan Vlahovic’s 95th-minute penalty equaliser.

McKennie created one chance during the game and at least justified being started by manager Thiago Motta following his midweek heroics, when he scored spectacularly against City from Weah’s cross.

It was an up-and-down week for McKennie (Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

But three days later, Weah had an afternoon to forget. Also back in the starting line-up, playing off the right, he managed no successful crosses and completed only one of the three dribbles he attempted. In the end, Weah was subbed off after 65 minutes for Francisco Conceicao.

Over in Milan, it was a case of fluctuating fortunes as well. Christian Pulisic remains in the treatment room, recovering from a calf problem, as his team ground out a disappointing goalless draw with mid-table Genoa at the San Siro. Both Juventus, who are sixth, and Milan, eighth, are off the pace in the fight for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Each have won just once in their last five Serie A outings.

Yunus Musah, who was fit to start for Milan in their 2-1 Champions League home win over Belgrade’s Crvena Zvezda last week, has since also picked up an injury and joined Pulisic on the injured list with a muscular problem. Those injuries to Musah and Pulisic denied both the chance to play against Genoa, Milan’s 125th-anniversary game.

In France’s Ligue 1, Monaco striker Folarin Balogun is also out and is expected to be sidelined for four months as he prepares to undergo shoulder surgery.

Player of the weekend

Two assists, a last-ditch crucial block and one thoroughly well-earned man-of-the-match award. It was a memorable Saturday for Antonee Robinson.

The USMNT defender was exceptional at Anfield as his Fulham side held Premier League leaders Liverpool to a 2-2 draw. His display prompted questions afterwards about whether the 27-year-old is the top flight’s best left-back — and it also led to fresh speculation over whether his club can keep hold of him.

Fulham manager Marco Silva alluded to the situation when asked to reflect on the display of Robinson, who he has admired since they were both at Everton.

Robinson came up against Mohamed Salah at the weekend (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

“What a performance,” said Silva. “It’s difficult to express in words. This season, he is so decisive. He was brave, assertive and aggressive in the right way when he came up against Salah. He had a yellow card after 27 minutes yet he stayed really aggressive in the right way.

“He was up and down every time and he’s one of the greatest in our dressing room with the way he works and the way he is playing.”

Asked whether he’s the best-performing left-back in the Premier League, Silva said: “You are asking the Fulham manager, but of course I am going to say yes.

“I don’t want to talk too much about him because I know in January the same story is going to follow about Robinson. I don’t want to go in that direction. He’s really focused in the way he plays, so let’s keep him like that. It’s crucial for us. If he’s the best or not, that’s not for me to decide, my players are always the best!”

Quote of the weekend

“Gio can become important for us if he remains fit,” Borussia Dortmund manager Nuri Sahin said in his post-match press conference after the American scored his first club goal in 583 days during Dortmund’s 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim on Sunday.

“(Despite more injuries), he’s managed to keep at it, train well and present himself positively. I’m glad he scored today. (Last season’s loan to Nottingham Forest) helped him see the importance of getting playing time here at Dortmund.”

Jeff Rueter’s graphic of the weekend

And may we be witnessing the Reyna-ssance?

A lot has changed in those 583 days. When Reyna last scored for a club (on May 13, 2023), the USMNT was in the dregs of its post-World Cup hangover. The United States’ ensuing year and a half has hardly gone to plan, but with Mauricio Pochettino now settled in his role, there’s no better time for Reyna to be reminding his new coach that he could be a main man in 2026.

On his day, Reyna is the USMNT’s most creative and decisive midfielder. On Sunday, he also showed he can read the play and drift into goalscoring positions. He marauded up the central channel, often keeping a Hoffenheim opponent nearby until his marker switched off. It left Reyna free to collect a defender’s header to the edge of the box before scoring.

Reyna is still only 22, and if he can get back to his best, he can be as vital to the USMNT’s chances as anyone — yes, even Pulisic.

How did other U.S. players get on?

Name: Malik Tillman
Club: PSV Eindhoven
Position: Midfielder

Tillman started but was unable to produce his usual magic for PSV as they slumped to a surprise 1-0 defeat away to Heerenveen in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie. Ricardo Pepi, meanwhile, was left on the bench again. The USMNT striker was also reduced to a sub role for PSV’s loss, by the same scoreline, against Brest in the Champions League last week.

Name: Cameron Carter-Vickers
Club: Celtic
Position: Defender

The centre-back was lifting silverware for his club on Sunday, as he played his part in their comeback League Cup final victory against rivals Rangers. He played the full game but did not take a penalty in the shootout that decided the trophy-winners. His compatriot and centre-back partner Auston Trusty was replaced at half-time.

Cameron Carter-Vickers won silverware at the weekend (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Name: Paxten Aaronson
Club: Utrecht
Position: Midfielder
The younger Aaronson brother was booked but played the full game as Utrecht came from behind to snatch a point in a 3-3 draw with Go Ahead Eagles.

Name: Mark McKenzie
Club: Toulouse
Position: Defender

The central defender performed well as his Ligue 1 club beat St Etienne 2-1 at Stadium de Toulouse on Friday. According to Fotmob, he won all three of his duels playing on the left of a back three.

Name: Johnny Cardoso
Club: Real Betis
Position: Midfielder

Cardoso played the full game on his return to action for Betis after missing their last three games with a hip problem. Betis did not win any of the fixtures the American was missing — but they did grab three points against Villarreal (2-1) with him in midfield again on Sunday.

What’s coming up?

(All times are ET)

Can McKennie and Weah get back to winning ways quickly as Juventus face Cagliari in Coppa Italia action on Tuesday? Find out by tuning in at 3pm on Paramount+.

See if Cardoso can build on his Betis comeback as his club compete in the Europa Conference League against HJK Helsinki on Thursday (3pm CBS Golazo/Paramount+).

On Friday, Musah will be desperate to shake off his muscle problem and help Milan return to form in Serie A as they take on Verona (3.45pm, Paramount+), and on Saturday, Joe Scally will likely feature for Borussia Monchengladbach against Hoffenheim in Bundesliga (9.30am, ESPN+).

(Top photos: Getty Images)