By FRANCO PANIZO

If Brad Guzan retains his spot in Aston Villa's starting lineup this weekend, we are in for a treat.

Guzan and the Villans host Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Everton on Saturday in arguably the biggest match-up involving Americans this weekend.

A few weeks after an ominous Leeds United debut, Robbie Rogers is back in action.

The American winger played in a club friendly against Carlisle United and scored on Tuesday, marking his return to the field for Leeds after suffering a concussion in his debut on Feb. 18. After coming on as a 79th-minute substitute, Rogers clashed heads with Doncaster Rovers' Tommy Spurr on a 50-50 ball and had to be taken off in stoppage time.

20 year-old James Henry Tavernier has so so far played 51 games in his fledgling football career. Charlton's Johnnie Jackson and MK Dons' James Tavernier fight for the ball But only two of them are with Newcastle, and he has racked up the rest on loan at Gateshead (18), Carlisle United (17), Sheffield Wednesday (8)and MK Dons (6), where [.

Former Arsenal F.C. Academy player Tom Cruise is set to join the New England Revolution for a two week trial, according to a report on Sky Sports. Cruise, a defender, will join the Revolution in Arizona for the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup.

Cruise joined Arsenal in 2007, winning the FA Youth Cup with the club in 2008-2009, but was released as a free agent in June of 2011.

[F]or our first proper post following the big redesign, we are very pleased to welcome back John McGee. Bring Me the Head of Keith Mincher is John's blog devoted to Carlisle United and he likes nothing better than to rail against anyone who disagrees with him on Twitter under the nom de plume of @epouvantail - he's a little smug at the moment given the club's continued robust play-off push.

Liverpool step into the last remaining competition on their calendar, welcoming Oldham Athletic to Anfield in the third round of the FA Cup. The League One side got past Southend United in the second round after a draw forced the home replay, which the hosts won 1-0. Liverpool will be looking to get past the third round for just the third time in six seasons after crashing out to Reading and Manchester United in the past two seasons.

photo by ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

The German Bundesliga kicks back into full gear this weekend, and with it could come a direct head-to-head duel between a pair of U.S. men's national team players.

Steve Cherundolo and Fabian Johnson could do battle when Hannover 96 and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim resume their Bundesliga campaigns on Saturday.

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.

Flash back to the 31st of January 2010 – shot shy Carlisle United are desperate for an experienced front man to come in to help out the earnest pairing of Scott Dobie and Joe Anyinsah, the then still errant, gangling giraffe Gary Madine and the bunged-up blunderbuss Richard Offiong. By mid-morning the signing of a striker had been announced, in the form of 18 year old Stoke City man Ben Marshall, a youngster who'd had earlier spells with a pair of League Two Towns – Northampton and Cheltenham.

Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City beat Barnsley in Championship play this midweek, while Frank Simek and Carlisle United went down hard to Brentford in League One.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Timmy Chandler's future with Nurnberg may be up in the air, but the American is still likely to be relied upon by the club this weekend.

Even with Nurnberg handing him an ultimatum earlier this week, Chandler is likely to be in the club's lineup for its match against Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City host Chelsea in an FA Cup replay, while Frank Simek and Carlisle United hope to get back to winning ways against lowly Rochdale in League One action.

It's Tuesday. Four days away from the season and home opener. With the news from camp is there is a new trialist in training. Lewis Neal, an English midfielder, will be training with the team. Neal started his career at Stoke City but played for Carlisle United and Shrewsbury Tow. He made 150 appearances in England and has been playing at Orlando City SC where he notched four goals and three assists in 21 appearances for the Florida club.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Puebla beware. Herculez Gomez is starting to get hot again.

Just as he has done so often in the past couple of years, Gomez is starting to put together a scoring run. He has found the back of the net three times for Santos Laguna in the past week-and-a-half, and will look to add to that this weekend when DaMarcus Beasley and Puebla come into town.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Rangers' hopes of winning the league for a fourth consecutive season are all but over, but that likely won't stop this weekend's match against first-place Celtic from being as fervent as usual.

Rangers host Celtic on Sunday in a game that should still be intense despite Celtic's 21-point lead in the league.

Tim Ream and Bolton play an emotional FA Cup game against Tottenham, while Frank Simek and Carlisle United look to solidify their playoff spot against Milton Keynes Dons.

Tim Ream and Bolton crashed out fo the FA Cup with a loss to Tottenham, while Frank Simek and Carlisle United beat Milton Keynes Dons in League One play.

By FRANCO PANIZO

For two Americans dealing with the disappointment of being bounced out of the Europa League, this weekend provides them an opportunity to rebound. Against each other.

Steve Cherundolo and Jermaine Jones will face off on Sunday trying to get back in the win column after seeing their respective teams eliminated in the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday.

[T]his time four years ago Carlisle United stood on the brink of glory. A single win from their last three games against Leeds United, Southend or Millwall would have been enough for the Cumbrians to claim the final automatic promotion spot from League One and reach the heady heights of English football's second tier for the first time in 20 years.

[T]his time four years ago Carlisle United stood on the brink of glory. A single win from their last three games against Leeds United, Southend or Millwall would have been enough for the Cumbrians to claim the final automatic promotion spot from League One and reach the heady heights of English football's second tier for the first time in 20 years.

Seb Hines and Middlesbrough continue their promotion push against Doncaster Rovers, while Frank Simek and Carlisle United take on Stevenage in a game with promotion aspirations.

Seb Hines and Middlesbrough hurt their promotion dreams with a draw against Doncaster, while Stevenage dented Frank Simek and Carlisle United's own hopes for Championship soccer next season.

Currently in eight position in the English Football League, One, Carlisle United FC is still in contention for a playoff promotion spot with one match left in the season. Ahead...

Football League play-off finals aside, the domestic season is now all-but over and last week saw the last of our non-league videos of the week. To fill the gap between now and the start of next season, though, we're going to bring you some videos from the history of the game in England and who better to start with the new European champions, Chelsea?

The Carlisle United manager has today said that Alan Pardew is an inspiration to him. Greg Abbott Carlisle manager But because of Alan's fantastic success at Newcastle, in what turned out to be a magical season for Newcastle, he also says tongue in cheek that he's jealous of Pardew. It was a short two years ago in 2010 when Carlisle were [.