Eddie Johnson has been handed a chance to resurrect his World Cup dream after being recalled to the USA squad for their friendly against Slovakia on Saturday.
The Fulham striker had feared his chances of making the US squad for South Africa were vanishing after a lack of first-team football at the start of this season but Bob Bradley has opted to give the former Kansas City Wizards forward his first chance to impress this year.
Johnson has been on the periphery of Fulham’s first team squad, making just two league appearances as a substitute, the last of which came at West Ham last month, when he missed a glorious chance to win the game in stoppage time. Johnson, who also played in the Carling Cup defeat to Manchester City, has been in good form for the reserves, though, scoring twice in a recent victory over Cardiff, where he spent the second half of last season on loan.
Clint Dempsey, currently in a rich vein of goalscoring form after a slow start to this season, is also included in Bradley’s 22-man squad.
If Landon were available, Eddie wouldn’t be there.
Meant, if guys like Landon & others were available (those still involved in the MLS Playoffs)…my bad. Eddie is not making the WC squad. No chance.
Apparently, EJ’s been fined by Fulham for turning up an hour and a half late to training.
I think it is too early to proclaim anyone like EJ or Adu completely out of the WC. One year ago many people hadn’t even heard of Charlie Davies and now we are desperate to find a replacement. EJ has speed and could mimic Charlie in that respect (only) and might yet prove useful running off a big man like Jozy or more classically Ching (you know Bob will bring Ching). I certainly hope Eddie (re)gains his form both for club and country and while he is unlikely to have a ticket to South Africa stranger things have happened.