photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Nearly two and a half years after the accident that almost claimed his life, Charlie Davies made his official return for Sochaux.

Having last played in a Ligue 1 game on Oct. 3, 2009, Davies completed his return to Sochaux by coming off the bench in its 1-0 defeat to Stade Rennes.

I am going to assume the Prem will have no choice but to change the scoring on Fulham's winner today, giving Clint Dempsey another dazzling goal to count. His shot is clearly tipped onto the bar by the keeper, which makes it a shot on goal, which makes it a scorer's goal. If that's an own goal, my name is Lord Rupus Schmendrake IV.

Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ISIphotos.com

The pieces are in place for it to be the weekend of the landmark appearance for Americans across Europe.

After Tim Ream was named to Bolton's matchday roster and Charlie Davies was named to Sochaux's, West Ham announced that centerback George John will be part of the 20-man traveling party for the club's match at Peterborough United on Saturday.

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

For Charlie Davies, perhaps not securing a full transfer or loan extension was the best tactic to take this winter after all.

Davies has been included on Sochaux's first-team roster for the club's league game at Stade Rennes on Saturday, marking a major milestone for him and his quest to break back into the club's lineup.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Landon Donovan's time with Everton is nearing its end and while he may want to make an impact in all of his remaning games with the club, this weekend's match might be at the top of his list.

Everton are set to face Chelsea in a match that will pit Donovan against the likes of John Terry, Juan Mata and Florent Malouda.

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

Tim Ream returned to England earlier this week with all the necessary paperwork completed for him to suit up for Bolton Wanderers, and he might not have to wait long at all to make his debut.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle told reporters on Thursday morning that Ream, and two of the other club's recent acquisitions, will be on the gameday squad that will take on Wigan Athletic in a match with relegation implications on Saturday.

After a red-hot start to the season, Jozy Altidore had lost his starting role for AZ Alkmaar and was mired in a bit of a scoring slump.

At the very least, that slump is now over.

Altidore scored twice in a four-minute span as a substitute in AZ's 6-0 rout of ADO Den Haag on Wednesday to break a two-month scoring drought.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Even though TSG 1899 Hoffenheim was unceremoniously dumped out of the DFB Pokal quarterfinals by second-tier Greuther Furth on Wednesday, the match carried significance for one American.

U.S. Under-23 winger Joe Gyau, made his first-team debut for Hoffenheim, entering as an 80th-minute substitute for U.

On a night when AZ starter Charlison Benschop bagged a hat trick, late sub Jozy Altidore has come on to hit a brace of his own, capping a 6-0 win at ADO Den Haag. They were both simple finishes, coming less than two minutes apart on assists by Brett Holman and Maarten Martens.Jozy had been without a goal since December 4th, but now his league total stands at seven and his haul across all

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

United States fullback Eric Lichaj has completed his return from a hip injury that kept him out of action for the better part of the last five months, making the bench for Aston Villa's first team in its last two matches. Despite Lichaj being a candidate to go on loan upon his return, Aston Villa appears to be remain committed to seeing what he can do for the club, even if that means moving him to a new spot on the field.

You may not get every Photoshopped reference contained within (I didn't), but I think we all get the Guardian readers' general gist concerning Clint Dempsey's star status in England.- Greg Seltzer

The recent upheaval following a club match in Egypt that left 74 people dead and more than a thousand others injured could have easily convinced Bob Bradley to pack up his things and return to the comfort of the United States.

Instead, the former U.S. national team coach and current Egypt national team coach reportedly remains committed to his job while doing his part in the rebuilding of a nation.

Josh Gatt is not a player many American soccer fans have seen play, but he is already considered one of the best young Americans playing in Europe.

The speedy Michigan native has enjoyed an outstanding start to his professional career, going from 18-year-old newcomer to 20-year-old transfer target, having already made one upward move from Austrian club SCR Rheindorf Altach to Norwegian champions Molde.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Sacha Kljestan has quietly put together a solid season for RSC Anderlecht, but he made some noise in the club's latest win on Sunday.

Kljestan scored his third goal of the season (fourth across all competitions) in Anderlecht's 4-2 win over Racing Genk when he fired home a free kick from 30 yards out.

Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan fired home the second via free kick in their 4-2 victory over Belgian holders Genk (not to be confused with Mix Diskerud's Gent, as can easily occur).The clip may take a while, but it'll surface sooner or later.- Greg Seltzer

Sporting Kansas City's quest to repeat as Eastern Conference regular season champions began today with a 2-1 pre-season victory against the San Jose Earthquakes in the pre-season opener for both clubs.

Kansas City midfielder Konrad Warzycha delivered the game-winning goal, converting a free kick to break a 1-1 deadlock.

You didn't actually think I'd shut my yap just because some windows closed, did you?I can report that Ryan Nelsen was considering a return to D.C. United when Tottenham swopped in at the last minute. I can also tell you he still plans to come back to the Red-and-Black. There should be a full report up at MLSS before long.

Frigid temperatures and snowstorms across Europe are starting to take their toll on the soccer schedule.

Saturday's anticipated match between Roma and Inter Milan has already been postponed because of snow blanketing Rome. The Cesena-Catania match has also been called off, and that is in addition to four midweek Serie A games having to be rescheduled because of the snow.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The winter transfer window closed this past Tuesday, and a pair of Americans who secured moves during it will be looking to make their debuts this weekend.

George John and Robbie Rogers could make their first appearances abroad for West Ham United and Leeds United, respectively, as the Championship gets back into a full weekend swing.

Just so we remember I'm in the business of providing pastime relief from the horrors of the world, let's flip on Gent tube for some smiles. The always irrepressible Mix Diskerud sits down for an interview (run fully by him... this kid is my dude) and we even get some English comments from new boss Trond Sollied.

An Egyptian TV station managed an interview with Bob Bradley in the aftermath of yesterday's horrible tragedy at Al-Masry. As you can see above, he and his wife took part in a march against such things today - you certainly have got to admire the toughness of that clan.First though, I just have one thing to ask.

By FRANCO PANIZO

U.S. prospect Alfredo Morales has not seen the field for Hertha Berlin since October, but that will not stop him from making his first-ever start in the Bundesliga this coming weekend.

Morales is slated to start at right back in place of the suspended Christian Lell when Hertha faces Hannover 96, according to head coach Michael Skibbe.

The departure of Mohamed Zidan from Borussia Dortmund has opened the door of opportunity for U.S. Under-23 national team forward Terrence Boyd.

With Zidan having moved to Mainz during the transfer window, Boyd and fellow youngster Marvin Duksch have been summoned from their respective reserve teams by head coach Jurgen Klopp.

Clint Dempsey did it again.

Dempsey scored another goal for Fulham, tallying the opener in the Cottagers' 1-1 draw with West Brom on Wednesday. Costa Rican international Bryan Ruiz slipped Dempsey a pass inside the area, and the American turned and finished with a right-footed strike in the 69th minute to add to his current run of form.

Fulham ace Clint Dempsey has just expertly turned home a Bryan Ruiz slip pass to put the hosts up 1-0 on 68 minutes.At least one clip to come...- Greg Seltzer

It's gone around Italy that newly freed-agent Edson Buddle has had calls from Lazio. I am here to tell you this is not the case. As I stated yesterday, he's on his way back to Los Angeles. It's all done, I promise.- Greg Seltzer

Out of what passes as the kindness from what passes as my heart, let's officially kick off your summer window mental instability with a fun fact (that was tipped off by MLSS homey, the Armchair Analyst).I can confirm that our faithful friend Fulham is among the clubs sizing up Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan for summer.

While it's possible something else wiggled through the window, it appears Edson Buddle rejoining L.A. and Charles Renken heading to the Portland Timbers will stand as our late fireworks.As I was informed to be likely, the DaMarcus Beasley move to Nancy did not come off, most likely because Puebla execs are too busy trying not to go to jail.

Edson Buddle's European venture has come to a screeching halt.

Despite Buddle scoring six goals for FC Ingolstadt this season, the club released him from his contract Tuesday for unspecified reasons. Buddle had been sent away from the team prior to the 2. Bundesliga's winter break, the first indication that his time in Germany may have been coming to a premature close.

Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

European transfer deadline day has proved to be fruitful for one American abroad.

Mikkel Diskerud has been loaned from Stabaek in his native Norway to Belgian top flight club KAA Gent, the club announced on Tuesday. The loan comes with an option to buy at the end of the season and gives Diskerud a chance to prove his worth for a different club for the first time in his brief career.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

It is a wild day across England, with the rapid-fire closing of the transfer window being accompanied by a full slate of mid-week matches. While the transfer window doesn't figure to include any more Americans making moves to England, there could be some notable performances by U.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

Santino Quaranta likely deserved a less abrupt end to his playing career. Instead, he is getting an unprecedented chance at a new beginning.

After not being offered a new contract with D.

As in summer, there will soon be a transfer deadline ticker over at MLSS, which I'll be stocking with as much scene-setting and deal-clinching as we can find.Since that won't begin for an hour or so, let's kick off the day with a couple bits. First off, it now seems Charlie Davies will be remaining at Sochaux.

Yes, that is Oguchi Onyewu's nickname with Sporting CP fans and the local media - even though he neither captains them nor the USMNT. And this is how one supporter artistically views our man Gooch today...- Greg Seltzer

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

In a week that saw several young and inexperienced players make their cases for more playing time on the U.S. men's national team, it was the veterans of the United States who shined brightly.

Landon Donovan was one of those players, as he inspired Everton to victory by setting up both of its goals in a 2-1 win over Fulham in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday.

Oguchi Onyewu didn't start today's Sporting CP match off in the best of fashions, drawing a first-minute yellow card. He quickly made up for that slow start by scoring a pair of first-half goals against Beira Mar.

If you watch the videos below and think you're seeing the same goal, you aren't.

Alternate title: "Welcome to the guns show" translated into Portuguese. Before they'd even hit the half hour, Sporting CP defender Oguchi Onyewu had notched one yellow card and two goals.Visual evidence to come...- Greg Seltzer

DaMarcus Beasley has picked up where he left off with Mexican side Puebla, continue his stellar form since moving South of the Border with his latest goal.

Beasley delivered the game-winning goal in Puebla's 1-0 victory against Jaguares on Saturday, scoring a right-footed finish after making a fast back-post run and latching onto a perfect pass before pulling off a perfect cut-back and finish.

Puebla winger DaMarcus Beasley's first goal of the young season has put the visitors up just three minutes into their tilt at Jaguares (and, subsequently, compelled me to bastardize a Run DMC lyric).- Greg Seltzer

It may have have happened in a loss, but Fabian Johnson scored his first goal for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Johnson opened his account with the club he joined last summer by netting in the second half of Hoffenheim's 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund. Johnson got on the end of a low cross and one-timed a powerful shot into the back of the net to prevent Hoffenheim from getting shut out for a second consecutive game.