USMNT Watch: Alejandro Bedoya in Red-Hot Form for Nantes
Before he missed the back end of 2015 with an illness, Alejandro Bedoya was considered to be one of the top United States men's national team players at both the club and international levels.
Since the start of 2016, Bedoya has recovered his form from 2015 and has been one of the best players on the pitch for Nantes across all competitions.
Bedoya extended his terrific start to the calendar year into last week, as he contributed a goal and an assist in two matches.
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We'll have more on Bedoya and updates on the rest of the USMNT players plying their trades across the globe below in our latest USMNT Watch.
Bedoya Shines with Goal and Assist for Nantes
Bedoya's impressive week began on Wednesday, when he scored the game-winner in extra time for Nantes in their Coupe de France round-of-16 contest with Bordeaux.
In the 118th minute at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bedoya nodded home a shot from close range at the right post. The goal sent Nantes into the quarter-final round, where they will face Ligue 2 side Sochaux on March 2.
On Saturday in Ligue 1 action against Lorient, Bedoya provided Adryan with an assist in the 10th minute to put Nantes ahead at home. Nantes went on to win the match 2-1. After 26 matches, Nantes sit in fifth place with 39 points.
Since January 20, Bedoya has produced four goals and two assists. If he keeps his form up through February and March, it will be interesting to see him combine with Fabian Johnson, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey in the USMNT attack in the pair of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala.
Elsewhere in France, former USMNT boss Bob Bradley guided Le Havre to a 1-0 road win over Metz. The key victory in the race for promotion pulled fifth-place Le Havre within two points of Metz and Red Star, who both have 43 points.
Yedlin Helps Sunderland Earn Massive Win
The most eye-popping result to come out of the Premier League on Saturday saw Sunderland upset Manchester United 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.
USMNT full-back DeAndre Yedlin turned in an impressive shift on the right side of defense in the victory that handed the Black Cats a lifeline in the relegation race. With 12 matches remaining in league play, Sunderland are one point behind 17th-place Norwich City.
Tim Howard returned to the Everton matchday squad on Saturday, but he was left on the bench for the Toffees' 1-0 home defeat to West Bromwich Albion. It's too early to tell if Howard has permanently lost his position, but his seat on the bench for Saturday's match is a tad concerning.
Down in the Championship, Danny Williams missed Reading's match with Burnley on Saturday due to a knock he picked up in training.
Eric Lichaj started and played the full 90 for Nottingham Forest in their 2-0 loss at home to Huddersfield Town.
Emerson Hyndman played eight minutes off the bench for Fulham, while Tim Ream and Jonathan Spector did not play for their respective sides.
Over in League One, USMNT youth player Lynden Gooch started for Doncaster Rovers in their 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United. Gooch is on loan at the club from Sunderland.
Brooks Starts, Pulisic Comes off the Bench Again
John Brooks was the only USMNT player to start and play 90 minutes in Germany on Saturday. The centre-back and his Hertha Berlin teammates dropped a 2-0 result to Stuttgart.
Although he isn't playing for the first team at Stuttgart, Jerome Kiesewetter did feature for 80 minutes in Stuttgart II's game on Friday. The forward impressed during his time in California for the USMNT's annual January camp.
Christian Pulisic made another appearance off the bench for Borussia Dortmund in their 1-0 victory over Hannover.
Alfredo Morales featured for nine minutes off the bench for Ingolstadt on Saturday, while Timothy Chandler remained out of the 18 at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Andrew Wooten played 66 minutes for Sandhausen in their 1-1 draw with Heidenheim in the 2.Bundesliga on Saturday.
Bornstein Headlines Uneventful Weekend in Mexico
Jonathan Bornstein was one of the only USMNT players to find his way onto the pitch in Liga MX on Saturday. The full-back played the first 66 minutes of Queretaro's 2-1 loss to Cruz Azul.
Former Real Salt Lake man Luis Gil came off the bench and played the final 26 minutes of the contest at the Estadio Azul for Queretaro.
Paul Arriola made a 10-minute cameo for Club Tijuana in their 2-1 victory over Tigres on Saturday.
William Yarbrough, Omar Gonzalez and Miguel Ibarra all play for their respective sides south of the border on Sunday.
Joe Tansey covers U.S. Soccer for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
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