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Sergino Dest bags a brace, Christian Pulisic stars and Tyler Adams' efficient performance

As the FIFA 2022 World Cup nears, talk of a golden generation of American soccer stars continues, with a multitude of young talent performing on a weekly basis across Europe.

With just over a year to the next World Cup, Planet Sport remains following the United States men's national team stars that could influence the next generation of American soccer.

Christian Pulisic is finally getting opportunities at Chelsea, Sergino Dest has made the right wing-back role his own at Barcelona and Tyler Adams is becoming one of the first names on Leipzig's teamsheet.

These are just a few names amongst a plethora of young American talent and the United States could soon be a force to be reckoned with. While the FIFA 2022 World Cup may prove a step too soon, Paddy Power has them as a 60/1 longshot for unexpected glory at the next major tournament.

Christian Pulisic

Sunday 21 March, Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United

There will be a sense of relief for Pulisic, who has had to wait patiently for chances under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea.

After struggling to make his mark away at Leeds United last week, the American put in a man-of-the-match performance at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Repeatedly coming deep to receive possession, the Chelsea forward dominated for his 83 minutes on the pitch before being replaced by N'Golo Kante.

While Pulisic ended up with no significant attacking contributions to show for his creativity, Tuchel and his Chelsea team-mates will have been impressed by his constant desire to carry the ball and drive his team forward.
Arguably, if it wasn't for the odd slip or a better finish from his colleagues up top, Pulisic could have had a goal or a few assists to his name in what was by far his best performance in recent months.

Rating: 8/10

Deandre Yedlin

Friday 19 March, Galatasaray 3-4 Rizepor

After going down early to Rizepor, Yedlin picked the perfect moment to score his first goal for the Turkish club to equalise.
Sweetly timing a first-time right-footed effort, his shot raced through a crowded six-yard area to level the scores after 14 minutes.

Yedlin's game carried on memorably, however, for the wrong reasons. The right-back managed to pick up his second yellow card for a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge in the area and that left the hosts with 10 men in the final minutes.

Galatasaray couldn't recover after the American's sending off and they now sit in second place, two points behind Super Lig leaders Besiktas.

Rating: 6.5/10

Sergino Dest

Sunday 21 March, Real Sociedad 1-6 Barcelona

Ronald Koeman's decision to employ Dest at right wing-back on the flank in front of his three-man defence continues to pay off.

In remarkable fashion, the attacking wing-back scored twice as Barcelona crushed Real Sociedad on the road.

The first of Dest's goals came as he smashed in from close range after an exquisite throughball from Lionel Messi.

After the break, the American doubled his tally as he finished off a wonderful Barcelona move, courtesy of an assist from his fellow wing-back Jordi Alba on the opposite flank.

The away performance in San Sebastian could only have been topped by adding a clean sheet to proceedings, however, Koeman and his side will not be bothered as they continue to apply pressure on league leaders Atletico Madrid.

Rating: 8.5/10

Giovanni Reyna

Saturday 20 March, FC Koln 2-2 Borussia Dortmund

After only being fit enough for the bench last week, Reyna returned to the starting line-up and began on the right-hand side of the visitors' four-man midfield behind Erling Haaland.

Giovanni Reyna Borussia Dortmund

Haaland scored twice but Reyna struggled to make his mark on his Bundesliga return

The 18-year-old, who is the son of Claudio Reyna, struggled to make an impact and his removal in the 66th minute may not have come as a surprise, due to his lack of creativity and also the fact he is regaining fitness after injury.

Reyna, however, will be hoping to return to form in the coming weeks, given he has not scored or assisted a goal in 14 games - a run which spans back to December.

Rating: 6/10

Matthew Hoppe

Saturday 20 March, Schalke 0-3 Borussia Monchengladbach

Hoppe was reinstated in the starting line-up but he couldn't stop Gladbach from crushing the hosts, who sit bottom of the Bundesliga and are staring relegation in the face.
Since his run of January form - in which he scored five goals in six games - the American forward has struggled to replicate his early 2021 success for the German side.
Another quiet performance up top ensured a torrid day at the office for the home side, however, Hoppe can't apportion much of the blame, given the lack of support in the ranks behind him.

Rating: 6/10

Tyler Adams

Friday 19 March, Arminia Bielefeld 0-1 RB Leipzig

With Julian Nagelsmann opting for a three-man defence for Leipzig's away fixture, Adams had to settle for a place at right wing-back in the starting eleven.

Despite impressing in recent weeks through the middle, the American's work-rate and positional sense served him well as his team earned a well-deserved 1-0 victory on their travels.

Since the hosts offered fairly little going forward, Adams' role was more focused on attacking up and down the right-hand flank, a job he did to great effect as he constantly posed a problem for his opposite man.
Leipzig's exit from the Champions League will also mean that there will be no more rotating of Nagelsmann's side, which could present even more opportunities for the American in the following weeks.

Rating: 7/10

Josh Sargent

Saturday 20 March, Werder Bremen 1-2 Wolfsburg

It was a day to forget for Sargent, who had been in good form up until last week, scoring three goals in three Bundesliga games before the visit of Bayern Munich.

The American forward managed to turn one into his own net in the eighth minute, via a headed deflection on a Wolfsburg free-kick.
To make matters worse, Sargent was then cautioned in the 57th minute as his side limped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Wolfsburg.
Perhaps aware of Sargent's growing frustrations, the forward was removed in the 58th minute and with an own goal and a yellow card to his name, he may quickly want to move on from this weekend.

Rating: 5.5/10

Chris Richards

Sunday 21 March, Hoffenheim 1-2 Mainz 05

The loanee centre-back saw his team go down again, this time rather unexpectedly at the hands of Mainz.
Despite the hosts' failure to keep a clean sheet or collect three points, Richards did contribute at the other end for Hoffenheim.
The American centre-back clipped a delicate, lofted pass over the top of the Mainz defence for Ilhas Bebou to bring down and power home an equaliser in the 39th minute.
Nevertheless, the loanee will be looking to get back on track with Hoffenheim as speculation persists about what his future holds at the end of the season.

Rating: 7/10

Weston McKennie

Sunday 21 March, Juventus 0-1 Benevento

McKennie is having to remain patient as Andrea Pirlo continues to deploy the likes of Andre Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey and Arthur ahead of him in the Old Lady's midfield.

With Juventus out of the Champions League, the American midfielder's only chances to impress will now be in Serie A, where Pirlo seems keen to operate with other options at the moment.

After waiting until the 73rd minute, McKennie was finally introduced and with his side already a goal down, the ex-Schalke man worked hard to get the hosts back into it.
Ultimately, Juventus' pressure and perhaps McKennie's introduction was all little too late as they fell victim to a surprise home defeat against Benevento.

Rating: 6.5/10

Tim Weah

Sunday 21 March, Lille 1-2 Nimes

Despite a fairly quiet performance against Paris Saint-Germain in midweek Coupe de France action, Weah was once again trusted to start on the right wing for Lille.

The hosts, who at the start of the day led Ligue 1 by three points, went down 2-1 losers to Nimes and Weah embodied Lille's struggles on Sunday.
With the American forward struggling to make a difference for the home side, Christophe Galtier removed him at half-time in an attempt to revitalise the Lille attack.

Rating: 6/10

Bryan Reynolds

Sunday 21 March, Roma 0-2 Napoli

After three months of waiting for his first taste of Italian football last time out in Serie A, Reynolds once again had to settle for the bench this week.
Unlike the previous week, the American right-back didn't get a chance to make his mark on the game as Napoli cruised to an important 2-0 victory in the Italian capital.

Rating: N/A

Antonee Robinson

Friday 19 March, Fulham 1-2 Leeds

Scott Parker has constantly rotated his left-backs, with Ola Aina and Robinson battling it out for one position on the left of the Cottagers' back four.
On Friday night, the American got the nod ahed of Aina to start and he put in an effective performance, despite the hosts running out 2-1 losers to keep them in the Premier League relegation places.
Antonee Robinson Fulham

Antonee Robinson put in a solid performance against Leeds despite Fulham losing 2-1 on Friday

The left-back did have some problems against Leeds' best attacking outlet Raphinha, however, he is likely to have done enough to impress Parker for next week's visit to Aston Villa.

Rating: 6/10

Tim Ream

Friday 19 March, Fulham 1-2 Leeds

In the same game, Ream was once again an unused substitute and the centre-back has now not played a Premier League minute since October.
With Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen forming a successful centre-back pairing, the American can have no complaints but, dependent on Fulham's Premier League status next season, he may feel it is time for a move.

Rating: N/A

Daryl Dike

Saturday 20 March, Barnsley 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Dike has been causing chaos in the Championship for Barnsley, scoring five goals in his last seven games before the Sheffield Wednesday game.

Unfortunately, the American forward couldn't replicate his attacking form, despite his best efforts as he repeatedly troubled Joe Wildsmith's goal.

Whether it was testing the goalkeeper himself or looking for strike partner Cauley Woodrow, Dike posed a constant threat even if his side fell on the wrong side of the 2-1 scoreline.

Rating: 6.5/10

Indiana Vassilev

Saturday 20 March, Cheltenham Town 2-0 Salford City

The Aston Villa loanee once again missed out on the starting 11 for Cheltenham. He has still only played 149 minutes since his loan move and the American will be growing incredibly frustrated with his lack of opportunities.

With the season nearing an end, Dean Smith and Villa's development team will be having to think how best to utilise Vassilev's potential or whether he needs to find a new permanent home.

Rating: N/A

READ MORE: Steven Gerrard's Rangers exploits put him in the frame to replace Mourinho at Tottenham

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