USMNT Watch: Bobby Wood Keeps Up Good Form with Brace for Union Berlin

The discussion about who should start up top for the United States men's national team in March's CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala got more interesting on Saturday as Bobby Wood bagged a brace for Union Berlin. 

The 23-year-old native of Hawaii has slowly made a mark on the international level, but his red-hot form may put him in the starting 11 next to or above regular first-team forward Jozy Altidore. 

Elsewhere in Europe, Brad Guzan was back in net for Aston Villa, but the relegation-bound side did not perform well. Over in North America, one of the USMNT's top defensive-minded midfielders found a home for 2016. 

We'll have news on those stories and more below in our weekly USMNT Watch. 

Bobby Wood Scores Twice for Union Berlin 

Wood netted his 11th and 12th goals of the season on Saturday in Union Berlin's 4-0 win over FSV Frankfurt. 

The American forward scored his first strike from the spot in the 29th minute to extend the advantage to two goals. Five minutes later, Wood found the back of the net from close range as he cleaned up a rebound in the middle of the goal.

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

The pair of tallies extended Wood's solid form in the 2.Bundesliga. Wood has scored on seven occasions in his last seven games, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. 

With Altidore working his way to full fitness at the club level in Major League Soccer, Wood may be handed a start—or extended playing time—in the matches against Guatemala. 

Up in the Bundesliga, Fabian Johnson recorded an assist in the 23rd minute of Borussia Monchengladbach's 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg. The loss dropped Monchengladbach down to sixth in the league table with 39 points. 

Alfredo Morales was once again not in the 18 for Ingolstadt, and Christian Pulisic did not make the matchday squad for Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

Brad Guzan and Aston Villa Suffer 4-0 Defeat 

Aston Villa's path to relegation became clearer on Saturday as they dropped a 4-0 result to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Guzan made his second consecutive start in net, but he was unable to help the Villains earn a positive result. In his last two starts, opponents have outscored Villa 7-1. 

Jon Super/Associated Press

Even though Villa are set to play in the Championship next season, it is good for the Yanks that Guzan is earning playing time with a pair of World Cup qualifying matches in the near future. 

DeAndre Yedlin and Geoff Cameron both started at right-back for their respective squads on Saturday in the Premier League. Yedlin played 90 minutes in Sunderland's 1-1 draw with Southampton, while Cameron featured for the entirety of Stoke City's 1-1 draw at Chelsea. 

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Down in the Championship on Saturday, Eric Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in Nottingham Forest's 1-0 loss at the hands of Ipswich Town. Danny Williams and Emerson Hyndman did not feature for their respective clubs. 

Lynden Gooch earned another start in League One in Doncaster Rovers' 1-0 loss to Shrewsbury Town. 

Jermaine Jones Traded to Colorado

With the MLS season on the horizon, Jermaine Jones finally found a home on Friday night, as the New England Revolution traded him to the Colorado Rapids. 

Shaun Clark/Getty Images

Jones should be able to make an impact on the worst team in MLS, but he will have to wait until April to do so since he has to serve a six-game suspension. The ban was handed down to Jones after he made contact with a referee during New England's knockout-round match with D.C. United on October 28. 

If he plays well for the Rapids in April and May, Jones has a shot of making the USMNT roster for the Copa America Centenario in June. 

William Yarbrough Records Clean Sheet

Another name to watch when it comes to the upcoming USMNT rosters is goalkeeper William Yarbrough. 

The 26-year-old netminder earned a clean sheet on Friday in Club Leon's 0-0 draw with Club Tijuana at the Estadio Caliente. 

Christian Palma/Associated Press

Yarbrough has the potential to beat out the other contenders for the No. 3 position on the goalkeeping depth chart with Bill Hamid out injured. 

Elsewhere in Mexico, Omar Gonzalez, Jonathan Bornstein and Edgar Castillo played 90 minutes for their respective sides. Jorge Villafana and Ventura Alvarado did not play, while Paul Arriola entered as a substitute for Xolos in their draw with Leon. 

News and Notes: Perry Kitchen Finalizing Move to Hearts 

Former D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen is expected to join Scottish side Hearts in the coming days. Kitchen is finalizing paperwork for the move, per BBC Sport. 

Bob Bradley's Le Havre earned a big victory in the race for promotion in Ligue 2 on Friday. Le Havre defeated Valenciennes 3-2 at the Stade Oceane. The club sit in fourth place with 48 points after 29 matches. 

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