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USMNT Stock Watch: Tyler Adams and Matt Miazga trending up; injured Antonee Robinson down

doug mcintyre
Tyler Adams, who transferred from the New York Red Bulls to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig this month, has hit the ground running in Germany. (Getty)
Tyler Adams, who transferred from the New York Red Bulls to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig this month, has hit the ground running in Germany. (Getty)

The U.S. men’s national team is officially back in action: Monday marked the squad’s first training session under new coach Gregg Berhalter, who has assembled 28 MLS players in Southern California for the squad’s annual January camp.

We’ll hear more about who’s impressing in Chula Vista as the Jan. 27 friendly against Panama in Glendale, Arizona, draws closer. In the meantime, you can be sure that Berhalter is also keeping a close eye on how the squad’s European and Mexican-based members are faring with their clubs — even those in countries where the domestic league is currently enjoying a mid-winter break — as he constantly evaluates the American talent pool.

Here are nine players who may have piqued his interest this week:

Trending up

M Tyler Adams, RB Leipzig (German Bundesliga)

The former New York Red Bulls engine finally completed his long-awaited transfer when the calendar flipped to 2019. And from the looks of it, Adams has impressed during his first few days with the club—both on and off the field:

Takeaway: It’s obvious that Adams arrived prepared; the 19-year-old spent five months before the move taking intensive German courses and he’s looked sharp in training by all accounts. It adds up to a great first impression for a player who could step into a significant role with Bundesliga’s fourth-place side immediately. “He has an incredible sense of the situation when it comes time to press, to win balls and to turn it forward into the attack,” Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick said of Adams.

D Matt Miazga, Nantes (French Ligue 1)

Another former Red Bulls product, Miazga saw his first action for Les Canaries since October, starting and going the distance in last week’s 4-1 French Cup win over Chateauroux.

Takeaway: It’s still possible that the Chelsea loanee ends up elsewhere before the winter transfer window closes, but the fact that Miazga has slowly worked his way back into the center back mix at Nantes (after months in the dog house, he made the bench for their final league match of 2018) is a promising sign.

M Duane Holmes, Derby County (English Championship)

The 24-year-old Georgia-born, English-raised speedster earned Man of the Match honors in Saturday’s 2-2 tie with Premier League Southampton in the third round of the FA Cup.

Takeaway: Holmes has never played for the United States at any level but is desperate to represent his birth nation. That dream will edge closer to reality if his breakout match help him lock down a regular starting job with the Rams. He’s been in and out of Frank Lampard’s lineup so far this season.

D Chris Richards, Bayern Munich (German Bundesliga)

Richards’ long-rumored permanent transfer to mighty Bayern was completed this week. The Alabama native, 18, had been on loan from FC Dallas during the first half of 2018-19.

Takeaway: It says plenty that Richards, a star center back on the U.S. squad that will compete in the U-20 World Cup in Poland this spring, convinced FCB to buy him after just a few months in Bavaria. Now comes the harder part: attempting to break in to Bayern’s stacked first-team squad.

M Djordje Mihailovic, Chicago Fire (MLS)

A surprise inclusion on Berhalter’s January camp roster, Mihailovic has a huge opportunity to show the new boss what he can do in a playmaking role.

Takeaway: The USMNT is stocked with promising young midfielders but few of them are creative types with the vision to unlock a stingy back line. If he impresses this month, Mihailovic’s unique skill set could see him called back with the full-strength U.S. squad for a pair of March matches.

Trending down

Antonee Robinson, still recovering from ankle surgery, won’t return to Wigan’s lineup until February. (AP/Matt Dunham)
Antonee Robinson, still recovering from ankle surgery, won’t return to Wigan’s lineup until February. (AP/Matt Dunham)

D Antonee Robinson, Wigan (English Championship)

Left back Robinson, on a season-long loan from top-flight Everton, remains out with the injury he suffered on national team duty in November.

Takeaway: When Robinson rolled his ankle two days before the U.S.’s 3-0 loss to England, it didn’t seem as though it would sideline him for long. The ailment required surgery, however, with the 21-year-old not expected back until next month at the earliest.

D Cameron Carter-Vickers, Swansea City (English Championship)

The Tottenham man continues to sit during his loan spell in Wales; Carter-Vickers played just two minutes off the bench in the Swans’ first match of 2019 and didn’t feature at all in FA Cup action last weekend.

Takeaway: Word is that Carter-Vickers’ search for playing time could land him back at relegation threatened Ipswich Town this month. That would be a breath of fresh air for the 21-year-old center back, who made 17 starts for the Blues during the second half of last season.

M Joe Corona, Tijuana (Mexican Liga MX)

After helping Club America win a league title last month while on loan, Corona returned to the Xolos but didn’t play in the club’s first match of 2019.

Takeaway: That’s not exactly a sign that the 28-year-old, who has still never quite established himself as full-time starter in his nine years as a pro south of the border, will be a key player for Tijuana this season.

M Emerson Hyndman, Bournemouth (English Premier League)

The 22-year-old Texan recently returned to the Cherries after completing a six-month loan to Scotland’s Hibernian, but he didn’t dress for Bournemouth’s FA Cup loss to Brighton.

Takeaway: Could another short-term loan in the works for the diminutive playmaker? Because it’s hard to see Hyndman competing for minutes in the Prem after starting just three of his final 11 games for Hibs.