Americans Abroad: Weston McKennie’s Upward Surge, Chris Richards Faces Tyler Adams, and Pulisic’s Hamstring Clouds the USMNT’s Momentum

Positive Camp, Uncertain Returns

There’s a lot to unpack this week in the ever-spinning world of Americans Abroad, from Weston McKennie’s continued resurgence in Turin to Chris Richards’ coming showdown with Tyler Adams in the Premier League. Add in Christian Pulisic’s hamstring setback and Tim Weah’s quietly growing influence in France, and there’s no shortage of storylines as the European club season rolls on.

Mauricio Pochettino’s October camp with the U.S. men’s national team offered plenty of encouragement. The Americans extended their unbeaten run to three matches, taking control against World Cup-bound Ecuador and Australia. More importantly, the camp seemed to crystallize which players Pochettino views as part of his inner circle — the reliable core he’ll lean on as the road to the World Cup intensifies.

But as always, the biggest test for these players comes once they return to their clubs. The question now is: who can carry that national team momentum into their weekly grind in Europe?

All Eyes on Christian Pulisic’s Injury

FBL-FRIENDLY-USA-AUS

It wouldn’t be a USMNT roundup without mentioning Christian Pulisic, even if the headlines aren’t ideal. The AC Milan winger limped out of the October window with what’s being described as a low-grade hamstring injury — the kind that never seems to arrive alone.

There’s been no official update from Milan, but reports out of Italy suggest he’ll be sidelined for around ten days, missing at least this weekend’s clash against Fiorentina. Tests indicated a minor lesion, and he’s set to be re-evaluated next week.

It’s an unfortunate twist for a player who, at 27, was enjoying arguably the best start of his club career: four goals, two assists, and a renewed sense of freedom under Stefano Pioli. The timing could hardly be worse. Milan are chasing consistency in Serie A’s early title race, and for Pulisic, history isn’t kind — hamstring issues have been his Achilles’ heel since his days at Chelsea.

Even a brief layoff raises concerns about rhythm and sharpness. For the U.S., it’s another reminder of how fine the margins are when their star man’s fitness hangs in the balance.

McKennie on the Upswing

Weston McKennie Juventus

While one American deals with another frustrating pause, Weston McKennie appears to be in full stride — physically, mentally, and tactically.

The Juventus midfielder was among the standout performers in Pochettino’s October camp, deployed in a more advanced, attacking role alongside Malik Tillman and Pulisic. It’s a position that, on paper, might seem unorthodox for the 26-year-old Texan. But in practice, it highlighted all the traits that make him unique: tireless running, clever movement, and a knack for disrupting opposition play high up the pitch.

Too often, McKennie gets pigeonholed as a purely defensive presence — a “destroyer” whose job is simply to shield the backline. But against Ecuador and Australia, he was unleashed as something closer to a Yaya Touré-style midfielder: box-to-box, aggressive, and proactive rather than reactive.

He pressed relentlessly, won back possession in dangerous areas, and drove the ball forward with purpose. And perhaps most notably, he looked fitter than he has in years.

The reason? A blunt message from his club manager, Igor Tudor.

“My coach at Juventus really put pressure on me,” McKennie told TNT. “He said, ‘You’re getting older, your body won’t bounce back like it used to. Cut the weight, take care of yourself, or you’ll be out.’ So I put my head down — diet, healthy snacks, more workouts. This summer was the first one where I didn’t mind taking my shirt off at the pool.”

That renewed discipline has translated onto the pitch. McKennie has gone the full 90 minutes in back-to-back starts — a 1–1 Champions League draw with Villarreal and a goalless affair with Milan — and seems to have earned his manager’s trust.

Next up: a tricky trip to Como, the Serie A surprise package led by former Arsenal icon Cesc Fàbregas, now carving out a managerial reputation of his own. Como sit eighth, just three points behind Juve, and are one of Italy’s stingiest defenses — conceding only five goals, the same as the Bianconeri.

A win would lift Juventus back into the top four and further underline McKennie’s resurgence as one of the team’s driving forces.

Americans Clash in London: Chris Richards vs. Tyler Adams

Bournemouth v Fulham – Premier League

From Italy to England, the Premier League is set for a distinctly American flavor this weekend as Crystal Palace host Bournemouth, pitting Chris Richards against Tyler Adams — two key figures for the national team, now on opposite sides of a fast-developing rivalry.

Both teams have been early-season revelations. Bournemouth sit an unlikely fourth, Palace close behind in sixth, and both are flirting with the kind of form that sparks talk of a European push.

Adams missed the U.S. camp — with a pretty good excuse, welcoming the birth of his child — but Richards featured prominently, albeit with mixed results. The defender endured a couple of shaky moments in the backline, most notably being beaten for Ecuador’s opener and failing to track a runner in the draw with Australia.

Still, his presence and leadership continue to grow. In fact, he’s beginning to embrace a harder edge that the U.S. team has arguably lacked in recent years.

After a reckless challenge on Pulisic went unpunished in the Australia game, Richards didn’t mince his words:

“They’re lucky it was a friendly,” he said. “If the ref didn’t give me that yellow, I probably would’ve killed somebody.”

That fire may sound over the top, but it reflects a maturity — an emotional investment — that teammates and fans have long wanted to see. Some have even floated his name as a potential future captain, a role that would see him follow in the footsteps of the man he faces this weekend: Tyler Adams, the U.S. captain in Qatar.

For Palace, this is a chance to rebound from a shock defeat to Everton and reassert their September form, when Richards was anchoring one of the league’s tightest defenses. Last season’s meetings between these two sides ended goalless — a sign that fine margins will once again dictate Saturday’s clash.

Tim Weah’s Quiet Influence in Marseille

FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-METZ-MARSEILLE

While headlines elsewhere swirl around goals and controversies, Tim Weah continues to carve out a quiet but vital role for Olympique Marseille.

Under Roberto De Zerbi, Marseille have transformed into genuine contenders — just a point behind PSG heading into the weekend — and Weah’s adaptability has been key.

Operating primarily as a wing-back, the 24-year-old has added balance to both flanks. His numbers don’t jump off the page — no goals or assists through seven Ligue 1 games — but his two-footedness and work rate have given OM valuable flexibility.

With both Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest battling injuries, Weah’s ability to slot in on either side of the defense has also boosted his standing with the U.S. setup.

This weekend could be pivotal: Marseille host struggling Le Havre, while PSG face high-flying Strasbourg. If results go their way, Weah’s side could end the round sitting atop Ligue 1 — a headline that would have seemed far-fetched just a few months ago.

Haji Wright’s Hot Streak Rolls On

Millwall v Coventry City – Championship

And finally, Haji Wright continues to make his case as one of the most in-form American strikers anywhere. His brace against Australia wasn’t just a statement — it was confirmation that his current run is no fluke.

That double took him to 11 goals in his last 11 matches across club and country. For a player whose career has often been disrupted by injuries and inconsistency, this stretch feels like vindication.

“This is the first season in years where I’m playing completely pain-free,” Wright said after the game. “It feels good to show what I can do.”

Now leading the line for Coventry City, Wright has become the driving force behind one of the Championship’s surprise promotion pushes. The Sky Blues sit top of the table and could return to the Premier League for the first time in 24 years.

They’ll face Blackburn Rovers this weekend — a storied club currently languishing near the relegation zone but boasting one of the league’s more disciplined backlines. Coventry are clear favorites, and Wright’s finishing touch could once again make the difference.

The Big Picture

From McKennie’s transformation and Weah’s versatility to Pulisic’s familiar injury worries, the story of Americans Abroad this week is one of contrast — progress and setbacks, opportunity and challenge.

But if one thing has become clear over this international cycle, it’s that the U.S. player pool is deeper and more resilient than ever. Each weekend across Europe now brings a new subplot, another test of how far this generation can push itself — and how much closer it can move toward being more than just “promising.”

For now, McKennie leads the charge in Italy, Richards and Adams square off in England, Weah hunts for top spot in France, and Wright keeps firing in the Championship.

And somewhere in Milan, Pulisic begins yet another rehab stint — one he hopes will be short-lived, because for the USMNT and its growing contingent abroad, the story is still just getting good.