USMNT Watch: Zardes, Wood Score Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers, Johnson Hurt

There was no shortage of news involving players in the United States men's national team talent pool over the last seven days. 

The biggest area of concern entering the weekend was the forward position, where Jozy Altidore remains sidelined with a hamstring knock, but the worries of USMNT fans suddenly shifted to the wing after an injury was revealed overseas. 

In addition to the bothering stories in attack, one of the contenders to start in goal against Guatemala on Friday and Tuesday found his way into the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Below we'll have news on all of the key Americans playing across the globe in our weekly USMNT Watch. 

Gyasi Zardes Bags Brace in LA Galaxy Victory

We're still not sure where USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann wants to play Gyasi Zardes, but it is clear he has a hunger for goal. 

The 24-year-old, who lined up on the wing for the LA Galaxy on Saturday night, found the back of the net on two occasions in the club's 3-1 California Clasico win over the San Jose Earthquakes. 

Zardes poked home the opener in the 56th minute before he scored into an open net in the 62nd minute. The double from Zardes is a good sign for the Yanks, who will need to find different outlets in attack during the pair of qualifying matches next week. The LA Galaxy's Twitter account provided footage of the second Zardes goal:

Chris Wondolowski was the lone goalscorer for the Earthquakes at StubHub Center. The veteran striker has three goals in three matches. 

One name to watch if he keeps scoring is Houston's Will Bruin. The 26-year-old forward netted his second and third tallies of the year in the Dynamo's wild 4-3 defeat at the hands of the New York Red Bulls. In the same game, midfielder Sacha Kljestan recorded a goal and an assist for the victors. 

Brek Shea, Mix Diskerud, Matt Hedges, Harry Shipp, Clint Dempsey, Jordan Morris and Tim Parker all started for their respective sides across MLS in Week 3. 

Bobby Wood Scores Again, Fabian Johnson Suffers Knock 

The man who should lead the USMNT line in Guatemala on March 25 recorded his 14th goal of the season in Germany on Friday. 

With his strike in Union Berlin's 3-1 win over Braunschweig, Bobby Wood tied Conor Casey for the best season in front of net by an American in Germany's top two leagues, per U.S. Soccer: 

The bad news from Germany this weekend came from Borussia Monchengladbach, where Fabian Johnson was diagnosed with an adductor strain in his right thigh, per ESPN FC's Doug McIntyre: 

Without Johnson in the fold for the contest versus Guatemala, the Yanks will need to find someone else to step up and play the role of main contributor on the flanks. 

Elsewhere in Germany, Timothy Chandler made a rare start for Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, while John Brooks featured in his normal role for 90 minutes in Hertha Berlin's 2-1 win over Ingolstadt. 

Brad Guzan's Howler Leads to Aston Villa Loss

Things got even worse for Brad Guzan and Aston Villa on Saturday as they fell 1-0 to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. 

Guzan mistakenly rushed off his line in the 54th minute and allowed Federico Fernandez to head home the lone tally of the Premier League contest. 

James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images

Geoff Cameron played 90 minutes at center back for Stoke City in their 2-1 win over Watford on Saturday. Cameron could play center back, right back or even in the defensive part of midfield for the Yanks in the coming week. 

Down in the Championship, Eric Lichaj, Danny Williams, Tim Ream, Emerson Hyndman, Jonathan Spector and Cody Cropper all earned starts. 

U23 Squad for Olympic Playoff Matches Announced

U.S. Soccer revealed the 23-man squad for the two-legged Olympic playoff against Colombia on Saturday: 

Matt Miazga and Morris are the key players who will drop down from the senior team to help the U23 team in its quest to secure a spot in August's 16-team field. 

Kellyn Acosta, Jerome Kiesewetter and Wil Trapp are among the notable names who will participate in the matches on March 25 and 29 in Barranquilla, Colombia, and Frisco, Texas. 

News and Notes: Bob Bradley's Le Havre Move into Promotion Position

With their 2-0 win over Tours on Friday, Le Havre boosted themselves into third place in the Ligue 2 table. Next up for Bob Bradley and company is an April 1 home match with Stade Laval. 

Alejandro Bedoya played 90 minutes for Nantes in Ligue 1 on Saturday. With Johnson out injured, Bedoya may have a bigger influence on the USMNT attack against Guatemala. 

William Yarbrough recorded six saves for Club Leon on Saturday. Omar Gonzalez, Edgar Castillo and Paul Arriola all started in Liga MX over the weekend. 

U23 forward Rubio Rubin continued his march back to full fitness as he started on the bench for Utrecht on Friday. 

Joe Tansey covers U.S. Soccer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.