The Americans Abroad Five: Tim Weah is an attacking player, actually.

This weekend had its share of highs and lows for the most prominent Americans abroad, who experienced enormous goals, commanding performances, and times of genuine frustration. This week, we’ll start with a player who is finally reaching his full potential at the club level. Let’s start with the Five, led by Timothy Weah. Weah is in his career year. Tim Weah has never performed like this at the club level. Weah has showed flashes of attacking ability throughout his career, but they have been punctuated by erratic performances and extended periods spent as a defender.

Credit to Thiago Motta, however: the first-year Juventus coach recognised that he had an attacking player on his hands and has set him up to thrive in 2024-25. Weah’s goal in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over AC Milan brought him to five goals and four assists this season, with nine goal involvements already a career high. Weah still seems to have room to grow. He’s missed six league games due to three different minor injuries and has only started eight of his 14 appearances. Weah has the potential to reach a new level in Turin if he remains fit and can hold off Juve’s superb wide attackers.

Richards primed for run of minutes

Consistent minutes have escaped Chris Richards this season at Crystal Palace, with injuries and coach’s choices stopping him from the run of starts he experienced previous term. But it looks like it could change, as a significant departure has coincided with some of Richards’ — and Palace’s — greatest form of the season. Richards started his fourth league match in a row on Saturday, and he delivered a fine performance in a 2-0 victory over West Ham. In those four starts, Palace had a 3W-0L-1D record, conceding only one goal. “Chris Richards had a short pre-season and then was injured, but he has performed admirably in every game he has played,” Palace head coach Oliver Glasner stated ahead of the West Ham clash.

In the meantime, Chelsea unexpectedly recalled Trevoh Chalobah from his season-long loan at Selhurst Park last week, which might pave the door for Richards to become a regular starter like he did in the second half of 2023-24.

Reyna still can’t get run

After Gio Reyna scored off the bench in Borussia Dortmund’s midweek loss to Holstein Kiel, head coach Nuri Şahin indicated a willingness to give the American attacker additional opportunities.. “He’s finding his rhythm,” Şahin stated ahead of Friday’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.”He’s shown that he wants to be in the starting lineup and is obviously a contender for Friday.” The coach may have considered Reyna for his starting lineup, but the match in Frankfurt ended up looking like so many for Dortmund this season: Reyna played little, and the outcome was cruelly disappointing. Reyna did not come on until the 87th minute at Deutsche Bank Park, as Frankfurt cruised to an all-too-easy 2-0 victory over the struggling visitors.

Dortmund has lost all three of its matches since the winter break, ending the weekend in 10th place. Reyna may soon have a new coach that he’ll have to convince.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk