MLS Exports: Bright performances in Mexico, Scotland, Israel

Greg Seltzer

It's been an eventful month for Major League Soccer products now playing around the globe, and as always, we're here to catch you up.

Several players on our MLS exports list joined new clubs last month, with some of them — namely Tyler Adams, Ian Harkes, Matt Miazga and Timothy Weah — are already shining in their new locales.

England


<strong>DeAndre Yedlin</strong><br> SEA: 2013-14	Though the US international has endured some recent criticism from Newcastle supporters and the local media, he remains all but a lock starter for Rafa Benitez. Yedlin helped the Magpies close out January with home wins over Crystal Palace and league leaders Manchester City. They only managed one point in their first two February games, but are still two points above the trap door with Huddersfield Town headed to St. James' Park this weekend.

DeAndre Yedlin SEA: 2013-14

Though the US international has endured some recent criticism from Newcastle supporters and the local media, he remains all but a lock starter for Rafa Benitez. Yedlin helped the Magpies close out January with home wins over Crystal Palace and league leaders Manchester City. They only managed one point in their first two February games, but are still two points above the trap door with Huddersfield Town headed to St. James' Park this weekend.


<strong>Tim Ream</strong><br> RBNY: 2010-11	The entire season has been a Premier League survival drive for Ream and Fulham, and the road has only gotten rockier over the last month. The veteran defender appeared in all four games since the last update, but only started two. The Cottagers dropped three of those four games to stay eight points below the relegation line. They'll try to turn things around with Friday's crosstown derby at West Ham United.

Tim Ream RBNY: 2010-11

The entire season has been a Premier League survival drive for Ream and Fulham, and the road has only gotten rockier over the last month. The veteran defender appeared in all four games since the last update, but only started two. The Cottagers dropped three of those four games to stay eight points below the relegation line. They'll try to turn things around with Friday's crosstown derby at West Ham United.

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Matt Miazga | USA Today Sports Images


<strong>Emerson Hyndman</strong><br> FC Dallas Academy	The midfielder was recalled back to Bournemouth from his Hibernian loan in January, but has yet to make the game day squad in the six EPL games since. Comfortably mid-table in 11th, the Cherries will tackle guests Wolverhampton on Saturday.


<strong>Geoff Cameron</strong><br> HOU: 2008-12	Queens Park Rangers manager Steve McClaren stated last week that Cameron's target date for a return is January 23, when they visit Middlesbrough. The Loftus Road side could use his help, as they've dropped five straight Championship games to slip to 16th.


<strong>Matt Miazga</strong><br> RBNY: 2013-15	The center back was recalled to Chelsea from his unsuccessful Nantes loan late last month and then farmed right back out to Championship survivalists Reading the next day. Miazga stepped straight into the Royals lineup for a 1-all share at Bolton a few days after that, and has helped them to consecutive scoreless draws the last two weekends. Reading stand two points from the safety zone (with a game in hand, mind you) ahead of Saturday's home game against Blackburn.

Matt Miazga RBNY: 2013-15

The center back was recalled to Chelsea from his unsuccessful Nantes loan late last month and then farmed right back out to Championship survivalists Reading the next day. Miazga stepped straight into the Royals lineup for a 1-all share at Bolton a few days after that, and has helped them to consecutive scoreless draws the last two weekends. Reading stand two points from the safety zone (with a game in hand, mind you) ahead of Saturday's home game against Blackburn.


<strong>Matthew Olosunde</strong><br> NY Red Bulls Academy	The young defender has finally returned from knee woes to make the bench for the Manchester United Under-23 squad’s last three matches.

Germany

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Tyler Adams | USA Today Sports Images


<strong>Weston McKennie</strong><br> FC Dallas Academy	The US national team youngster has spent most of the last month operating in a more advanced midfield role for Schalke, offering solid returns. McKennie has now notched three assists in his last five games after picking up helpers in their Jan. 20 win over Wolfsburg and this past weekend's loss to Bayern Munich. The up-and-down Miners will host Freiburg for a Bundesliga tilt on Saturday before Manchester City invade to open their Champions League Round of 16 tie next Wednesday.

Weston McKennie FC Dallas Academy

The US national team youngster has spent most of the last month operating in a more advanced midfield role for Schalke, offering solid returns. McKennie has now notched three assists in his last five games after picking up helpers in their Jan. 20 win over Wolfsburg and this past weekend's loss to Bayern Munich. The up-and-down Miners will host Freiburg for a Bundesliga tilt on Saturday before Manchester City invade to open their Champions League Round of 16 tie next Wednesday.


<strong>Alphonso Davies</strong><br> VAN: 2016-18	The Canada wunderkind made his Bayern Munich bow with a four-minute shift in their Jan. 27 rout of Stuttgart, and ended his first month with the Bundesliga holders with three short league cameos.


<strong>Tyler Adams</strong><br> RBNY: 2016-18	The winter recruit has almost immediately become an important midfield cog for Champions League chasers RB Leipzig. Adams went 90 minutes in each of his first three games for the club, clean-sheet wins over Fortuna Dusseldorf, Hannover 96 and Wolfsburg (their DfB-Pokal Round of 16 victim). He drew some raves, largely for his aggressive defensive coverage, but was then reduced to making a late cameo in last weekend's scoreless home draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Tyler Adams RBNY: 2016-18

The winter recruit has almost immediately become an important midfield cog for Champions League chasers RB Leipzig. Adams went 90 minutes in each of his first three games for the club, clean-sheet wins over Fortuna Dusseldorf, Hannover 96 and Wolfsburg (their DfB-Pokal Round of 16 victim). He drew some raves, largely for his aggressive defensive coverage, but was then reduced to making a late cameo in last weekend's scoreless home draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.


<strong>Khiry Shelton</strong><br> NYC: 2015-17 SKC: 2018	The Paderborn forward remains on the mend following knee surgery. Shelton's German debut will likely have to wait until at least spring.


<strong>Kianz Froese</strong><br> VAN: 2014-17	With four goals in his last seven Fortuna Düsseldorf II games prior to the break, Froese will continue his drive to break into the first team when they resume Regionalliga play at Alemannia Aachen on Sunday.


<strong>Chris Richards</strong><br> FC Dallas Academy	Not much really changed for the Bayern Munich Under-19 defender when his season loan was turned into a permanent transfer to Allianz Arena. Richards was in his usual starting place when the team returned from the winter hibernation with a 1-1 draw at nearby rivals Ingolstadt on Feb. 2 and was back on the job for this past weekend's 3-0 blanking of FSV Frankfurt. The team sit third, six points off the top.

Chris Richards FC Dallas Academy

Not much really changed for the Bayern Munich Under-19 defender when his season loan was turned into a permanent transfer to Allianz Arena. Richards was in his usual starting place when the team returned from the winter hibernation with a 1-1 draw at nearby rivals Ingolstadt on Feb. 2 and was back on the job for this past weekend's 3-0 blanking of FSV Frankfurt. The team sit third, six points off the top.

Mexico

Omar Gonzalez | Reuters


<strong>Omar Gonzalez</strong><br> LA: 2009-15	With the former US defender marshaling the back, Atlas have emerged as one of the Liga MX Clausura's early surprises. The Foxes went 2-1-1 over the last month to reach sixth place.


<strong>Rogelio Funes Mori</strong><br> FC Dallas Academy	The Monterrey striker's fast start to the Clausura season has continued over the last month. Thanks to a double against Club America on Jan. 27 and a goal in their weekend win over Lobos, Funes Mori stands joint-top on the league scoring chart with five tallies in six games. In part because of that, Los Rayados top the table as Puebla visit on Saturday night.


<strong>Carlos Salcedo</strong><br> RSL: 2013-14	Just after our January update, Salcedo made a reputed $9 million move from Eintracht Frankfurt to Tigres. He made his debut on Sunday, working all 90 minutes in central defense as the second-place visitors scored a 2-0 win at Veracruz.


<strong>Rafael Baca</strong><br> SJ: 2011-14	Just when it looked like the veteran defensive midfielder had lost his job to Cruz Azul's young blood, Baca returned to the lineup for a 1-0 road victory that knocked Tigres off the league summit on Jan. 20. He has kept that place for the three games that followed.


<strong>Tony Alfaro</strong><br> SEA: 2016-18	The new Chivas defender could be closer to dressing for a Liga MX match for the first time after working a full reserve game shift last week.


<strong>Lalo Fernandez</strong><br> RSL: 2012-17	The Tigres go has been relegated to evenly splitting backup duties through the first six Clausura rounds.

Spain


<strong>Ballou Tabla</strong><br> MTL: 2016-2017	The Barcelona B winger moved on loan to La Liga 2 leaders Albacete in January. Tabla made their bench for the first time in Sunday's victory over Mallorca.

Netherlands

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Erik Palmer-Brown | USA Today Sports Images


<strong>Erik Palmer-Brown</strong><br> SKC: 2013-17	The young US international remained on the bench for loan side NAC Breda's first four games out of the winter slumber, extending his spectating streak to seven. He did go all 90 in defensive midfield for the reserves on Tuesday. However, with the Yellow Army stuck in the basement and their center back tandem struggling on the regular, some local media this week called for Palmer-Brown to get a fresh chance in the heart of defense.

Erik Palmer-Brown SKC: 2013-17

The young US international remained on the bench for loan side NAC Breda's first four games out of the winter slumber, extending his spectating streak to seven. He did go all 90 in defensive midfield for the reserves on Tuesday. However, with the Yellow Army stuck in the basement and their center back tandem struggling on the regular, some local media this week called for Palmer-Brown to get a fresh chance in the heart of defense.

Belgium


<strong>Andy Najar</strong><br> DC: 2010-12	The Honduras ace was back in his old right back spot as Anderlecht emerged from the winter break, and has worked whistle to whistle in all for games since. Unfortunately, the hot-and-cold Mauves only won once in that span to slip into the table's sixth and final championship playoff slot. They'll try to right the ship at Royal Antwerp on Sunday.

Turkey


<strong>Cyle Larin</strong><br> ORL: 2015-17	The Canada forward netted his first Süper Lig goal of the season to cap Besiktas' 3-0 win at Akhisarspor on Jan. 19, but has been limited to two sub shifts since then. Now on a 3-0-1 run, the Black Eagles are up to third, standing just three points back of the second Champions League slot ahead of Friday's trip to Yeni Malatyaspor.


<strong>Eric Ayuk</strong><br> PHI: 2015-16	Red-hot Osmanlispor have won eight in a row to climb to within five points off the second-flight lead, and Ayuk is playing his part. The winger, who has started four straight, chalked up his third goal of the season in their Jan. 27 win at Giresunspor.

Costa Rica


<strong>Dennis Castillo</strong><br> COL: 2016	Having shifted to right back, the Perez Zeledon defender has suddenly become quite the goal threat. Castillo netted the first equalizer in a wild 2-2 draw with table-toppers Grecia in the first game after the last update and hit the lone goal winner at Santos this past weekend. He now has three tallies in nine Clausura matches, and his second-place side have lost only once.

Israel


<strong>Aaron Schoenfeld</strong><br> CLB: 2012-15	The striker is still getting some sub time (two short shifts since our last check-in), but it's hard to break into a Maccabi Tel Aviv lineup that is running away with the Ligat Japanika crown. Perhaps Schoenfeld will get a shot when the Israeli giants take a 4-1 advantage into the home leg of their State Cup quarterfinal against Bnei Sakhnin on Feb. 26.


<strong>Jonathan Bornstein</strong><br> CHV: 2006-11	With the veteran now regularly featuring at left back, Maccabi Netanya have become one of the stingiest teams in the Israeli top flight. Since our last update, they went 2-0-3 with four shutouts. The club now stands fourth, just a point out of second place, and will also try to make good on a 1-0 aggregate edge when their State Cup quarterfinal tie heads to Maccabi Petah Tikva on Feb. 27.


<strong>George Fochive</strong><br> POR: 2014-15	The 2015 MLS Cup winner landed with Ligat Japanika surprise package Hapoel Hadera in January, and has quickly notched five appearances, including starts in their last four league contests. Fochive, who has alternated between the No. 6 and the No. 8 slots thus far, opened his Israeli account in their 3-2 win over FC Ashdod on Feb. 2.

Norway


<strong>Sam Adekugbe</strong><br> VAN: 2013-17	In Tuesday night's 1-1 preseason draw with Russian side FC Rostov, Adekugbe’s shot off the post was cleaned up by a Valerenga teammate for the opening goal. The Canada left back looks sure to be in the Bohemians line-up when they kick off Eliteserien action against guests Mjøndalen on March 30.


<strong>Oyvind Alseth</strong><br> TOR: 2017	The right back and his hometown club Ranheim have begun their preseason friendly slate, which will lead up to a March 31 opening-day visit from Tromsø.

Scotland

Ian Harkes | Courtesy of Dundee United


<strong>Timothy Weah</strong><br> NY Red Bulls Academy	Almost instantly upon arrival late last month, Weah became a proper Celtic bench weapon. Working a bit at each of the three front line positions, the US speedster has notched three goals and an assist in his five sub outings (to go with two starts). With five straight league wins, the Hoops have opened up a six-point table lead over Rangers.


<strong>Matt Polster</strong><br> CHI: 2015-18	The fresh Rangers catch played all 90 minutes in Monday's reserve match, leading the locals to speculate that he could be in line for a first-team debut before long. However, Saturday's home game against St. Johnstone probably comes too soon.


<strong>Ian Harkes</strong><br> DC: 2017-18	Like Weah, the 23-year-old has wasted little time making an impact with new employers. In his Jan. 19 Dundee United bow, Harkes bagged a late tack-on goal to cap a 4-0 Scottish Cup cruise at Montrose, and his Championship debut followed six days later. Moving up the club ranks quickly, the midfielder has gone the distance in the Tangerines' first two February matches, both victories. Harkes and friends stand six points off the top ahead of Saturday's trip to Queen of the South, and are also slated to host either Inverness or Ross County in a Scottish Cup quarterfinal on March 2.

Ian Harkes DC: 2017-18

Like Weah, the 23-year-old has wasted little time making an impact with new employers. In his Jan. 19 Dundee United bow, Harkes bagged a late tack-on goal to cap a 4-0 Scottish Cup cruise at Montrose, and his Championship debut followed six days later. Moving up the club ranks quickly, the midfielder has gone the distance in the Tangerines' first two February matches, both victories. Harkes and friends stand six points off the top ahead of Saturday's trip to Queen of the South, and are also slated to host either Inverness or Ross County in a Scottish Cup quarterfinal on March 2.

Sweden


<strong>Romain Gall</strong><br> CLB: 2014-15	The winger and his Malmö teammates will get a taste of the big time when Chelsea comes calling on Thursday to open their Europa League Round of 32 tie. The Light Blues, who won't start Allsvenskan play until April, also have Sunday's Svenska Cupen home tilt against Degerfors to worry about between the two Blues bouts.


<strong>Coy Craft</strong><br> DAL: 2014-17	The former US Under-20 attacker is getting set for his first full season with third-flighters Nyköping. Craft, who scored twice in 11 appearances last year, currently looks a good bet to start at right wing when they kick off league play against visiting Gefle on April 7.


<strong>Ben McKendry</strong><br> VAN: 2016-17	Last week, the Canada midfielder made the jump to Nyköping from relegated Finnish side TPS. McKendrey, Craft & Co. begin Svenska Cupen play with a Sunday visit from IFK Göteborg.

Switzerland


<strong>Kekuta Manneh</strong><br> VAN: 2013-17	The Athletic's <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/02/12/report-fc-cincinnati-sign-former-crew-caps-winger-kekuta-manneh" target="_blank">Paul Tenorio reported on Tuesday</a> that FC Cincinnati were on the verge of signing the St. Gallen attacker. Manneh, who has not seen the field since Dec. 8, did not dress for either of the Swiss Super League outfit's first two games back from the winter pause.

Kekuta Manneh VAN: 2013-17

The Athletic's <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/02/12/report-fc-cincinnati-sign-former-crew-caps-winger-kekuta-manneh" target="_blank">Paul Tenorio reported on Tuesday</a> that FC Cincinnati were on the verge of signing the St. Gallen attacker. Manneh, who has not seen the field since Dec. 8, did not dress for either of the Swiss Super League outfit's first two games back from the winter pause.

Slovakia


<strong>Brian Iloski</strong><br> LA Galaxy Academy	Zemplin Michalovce and their young loan winger return from the winter break by hosting Sered on Saturday.

Thailand


<strong>Chris Cortez</strong><br> CHV: 2011	The 30-year-old forward has joined top flight Chonburi, who open the new Thai League 1 season with a February 23 visit to defending champs Biriram United.