AMSTERDAM – FC Twente loan defender Oguchi Onyewu, the last American standing in UEFA cup play, will hope his side can get a leg up when they open a Europa League quarterfinal tie at Villarreal on Thursday.
The contest (3 pm ET on DirecTV) will be a stern challenge for the Tukkers on many levels, but it remains to be seen if the US international will take part in the scrap. Onyewu has been named to the travel squad, but has also been nursing a sore back and league-suspended back-line ace Douglas is eligible for this one.
The American seems unlikely to start, but a newfound versatility and some experience against Villarreal attackers Santi Cazorla, Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi could make him an attractive relief option.
Twente have also had a recent boost in attack with Costa Rica winger Bryan Ruiz returning on the weekend and target master Marc Janko freshly pronounced fit for the trip to Spain. Before getting injured on Austria duty last month, however, Janko had hit just once in his last 11 outings.
The hot Enschede hand these days is fiery two-way midfielder Theo Janssen, who enters this match off consecutive league braces. The Eredivisie Player of the Year candidate could be licking his chops for Thursday, what with Villarreal skipper Marcos Senna and defensive midfield deputy Ángel López ruled out.
The Yellow Submarine did get Nilmar back onboard with a substitute appearance on the weekend, but his ability to play heavy minutes remains in doubt.
Providing Villarreal a great source of confidence for this game is their Madrigal form. In all this campaign, Villarreal have lost just two of 25 home games. What's more, they are a perfect six-for-six in winning Europa League home tilts this season by a combined 15-3 margin. In contrast, Twente have won only once from their last half-dozen road trips in this tournament.
