Americans Abroad: McKennie out to seize opportunity, Robinson out to prove quality, Balogun out to score again

How confusing must it be to be McKennie? The USMNT midfielder seems to go through the same cycle every year: Manager tries to exile him, he works his way back into the side, and stays there on the back of a string of strong performances.

The same pattern seems to be forming again here, with the American now starting in the last two matches for Thiago Motta's side. He was excellent in his first start of the year against PSV in the Champions League, and solid in the drab draw with Napoli last weekend. This weekend, he figures to have a bit more room to play against a struggling Genoa side that has won just one of their last five.

After tallying 10 assists in all competitions last year, he has shown that he can be the creative influence that an otherwise static Bianconeri need.

It has suddenly become quite a quiet era for left backs. Once a great position of strength in the Premier League, there are fewer and fewer traditional full backs in England's top flight. Robinson, though, is steadily becoming one of the best at that position. After an impressive campaign for Fulham in which he was named the team's player of the season, he has started this one in equally impressive fashion.

He already has two assists to his name and is in the 99th percentile among full backs in interceptions per 90 minutes, according to FBRef. A fixture against Nottingham Forest, and the in-form Callum Hudson-Odoi, should be a real challenge. But he's risen to meet every single one so far.

Two weeks ago, it was all doom and gloom with Balogun. The striker hadn't scored a goal for Monaco before the international break, and a couple of underwhelming showings for the USMNT, and there was already scattered talk about his questionable fit for Monaco.

Well, goals are the currency of success for strikers, and he's finally off the mark. Balogun took his first of the season well, bagging against Le Havre to draw Monaco level on points with PSG and Marseille atop Ligue 1.

That would seem to be enough to earn him another start, as his side take on Montpellier on Saturday evening. He has already developed a good understanding with Nigerian teenage sensation George Ilenikhena. This weekend, Balogun has further opportunities to show how good he can be.

Barnsley have quietly negotiated their way to a solid start in League One. The Yorkshire side are third in the table after seven match weeks. And although the duo of Birmingham and Wrexham is already pulling away atop the league, Barnsley seem to be among the glut of teams that will fight for a spot in the playoffs.

And this week could be a busy one for USMNT goalkeeper Gaga Slonina in goal for the promotion hopefuls. He will face Stockport County, paced by the lethal Louie Barry. A player once lauded by Jude Bellingham, the tricky winger has been a menace thus far this season. He is among the league's top goalscorers and is a lethal finisher on his day. It will, of course, be a team effort to limit the winger. But Slonina will need to be as error free as possible against a real dangerman.

It will be a real test for the goalkeeper, who doesn't have long to impress ahead of the USMNT's first camp with Pochettino.

• Can Brenden Aaronson keep up strong start to the season? The Leeds midfielder, who was named Player of the Month by the club's fans in August, faces a fellow U.S. international in Haji Wright on Sept. 28.
• Speaking of Wright, it's been relatively quiet for the forward outside of a brace he scored against Oxford United in Matchday 2. With plenty at stake for the 26-year-old, he'll need a strong performance this weekend to remind Pochettino of his quality.
• Another forward in need of a goal or two is Josh Sargent. The 24-year-old, who hasn't scored in three matches, is getting a ton of praise for his overall work rate and pressing by Norwich's manager Johannes Hoff Thorup. Still, with fierce competition at his position, Sargent could separate himself from the pack by breaking his goal drought. He faces Derby this Saturday.