McIntyre's USMNT Stock Watch: Why Bobby Wood's breakout comes at the perfect time

Injuries sustained by several key U.S. men’s national team starters over the last week or so ensures that the Americans will field a depleted lineup when they take on Colombia in a friendly on Thursday night in Tampa (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1). It also means opportunities for others eager to make their mark. The home side should have an in-form goalscorer up front for the first time in a long time, plus some promising young newcomers on the bench.

Here’s a look at whose stock is rising (or falling) significantly this week:

Trending up

F Bobby Wood, Hannover (German Bundesliga)

After entering off the bench in each of his previous four league appearances for the Reds, Wood made his first start and scored two well-taken goals in Hannover’s 3-1 win over Stuttgart.

The takeaway: Wood picked a good time to get on the scoresheet. Not only will the 25 year-old’s first goals since June give him a needed confidence boost heading into U.S. camp, they also repaid the faith shown in him by Hannover coach Andre Breitenreiter, who will surely keep Wood in his lineup following the international break.

G Brad Guzan, Atlanta United (MLS)

The 34-year-old Guzan is back with the U.S. for the first time in a year, having been recalled by interim coach Dave Sarachan along with fellow U.S. veteran Michael Bradley.

The takeaway: Zack Steffen has emerged as the Sarachan’s No. 1 keeper in 2018, but Guzan isn’t coming in simply to play second fiddle to the 23-year-old Columbus Crew backstop. Expect the pair to split these next two games, with Guzan likely to pick up his 59th career cap next week against Peru in Hartford, Connecticut.

M Jonathan Amon, Nordsjaelland (Danish Superliga)

The fleet-footed left winger parlayed his strong season in Denmark in to a callup from Sarachan, who had this to say about the 19-year-old: “With the combination of his speed and ability to at defenders in the final third, he’s someone that has shown to have a certain skillset that we have been missing.”

The takeaway: He’s still raw, especially defensively. He might not play much these next two games, if he plays at all. But to paraphrase Sarachan, you can’t teach speed. Amon has it, and his ability to stretch defensives should open up space for his teammates whenever he eventually gets on the field.

D Reggie Cannon, FC Dallas (MLS)

Right back Cannon has done what few other young MLSers have this season: play almost every minute of every match. The rangy Texan has started all 31 of FCDs games, going the distance in all but four and helping Dallas to the top spot in the Western Conference. “He possesses good athleticism and speed and has shown that he is hard to beat,” Sarachan said.

The takeaway: The UCLA product got the call ahead of Spain-based Shaq Moore and will compete for playing time behind vet DeAndre Yedlin. Don’t be surprised if Sarachan even gives him a look over Yedlin in next week’s contest against Peru.

M/F Fafa Picault, Philadephia Union (MLS)

The 27-year-old celebrated his first U.S. call-up since 2016 with two goals in Philly’s 5-1 drubbing of Minnesota United. His second strike was a beauty:

The takeaway: Picault wasn’t in the plans originally, having only been summoned when Christian Pulisic (more on Pulisic below) went down with a leg ailment. Now that he’s in camp, though, he could get the chance to leave a lasting impression.

D George Bello, Atlanta United (MLS)

In just his second MLS start, the 16-year-old blue-chip left back scored his first goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win over New England.

The takeaway: Let’s not get carried away here. Bello is still just a kid. He’s not ready yet. He only has a few first-team games under his belt; Saturday marked the first 90 minute performance of his career. But he’s also unanimously considered a legit talent, is already breaking into the best team in MLS, and mans the shallowest position in the U.S. player pool. With the USMNT’s youth movement in full force, an invite to the January camp, when he’ll be 17, doesn’t seem out of the question.

Trending down

M Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund (German Bundesliga)

The 20-year-old face of the American program will miss yet another set of U.S. games, his seventh and eighth of 2018. This time it’s a thigh injury that also ruled him out of Dortmund’s last two matches, including a mid-week Champions League win over Monaco.

The takeaway: Pulisic has been unlucky lately; he was also hurt for the September tilts against Brazil and Mexico. Combined with the three games in March and June he opted out of, he will have played just once for the U.S. in over a year. That’s far from ideal for a rebuilding squad that counts him as its most important player, whatever the reason.

M Tyler Adams, New York Red Bulls (MLS)

Coming off his best performance in a U.S. shirt last month’s 1-0 victory over El Tri in which he scored the winner. but was forced to pull out of these upcoming games because of a sore back.

The takeaway: It’s disappointing for Adams, 19, who seemed to grow up before our eyes during the September matches. The good news is that the injury isn’t expected to sideline Adams for long.

M Weston McKennie, Schalke (German Bundesliga)

A day after scoring his first Bundesliga goal, the 20-year-old on Sunday pulled out of Sarachan’s squad with what U.S. Soccer described as a right adductor injury.

The takeaway: McKennie was enjoying the best week of his young career when he went down late in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Fortuna Dusseldorf; the Texan also scored three days earlier, netting a 88th minute winner in Schalke’s Champions League triumph at Lokomotiv Moscow.

M Ale Bedoya, Philadephia Union (MLS)

Bedoya has been terrific for the Union for months and helped them clinch a playoff spot on Saturday with two regular season games to spare. Still he was overlooked by Sarachan, even after fellow attacking midfielder Pulisic pulled out.

The takeaway: There’s still a chance that the 31-year-old gets recalled next month. If not, it will be up to the next USMNT coach to determine if Bedoya’s experience can help guide the young squad over the next year or two.

Doug McIntyre covers soccer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

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