AVANDATIMES.COM – The early months of 2026 have presented a landscape of contrasting fortunes for several key United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) attacking players across Europe’s top football leagues. While some prominent talents grapple with injuries and a notable dip in form, others are seizing opportunities and delivering standout performances, shaping their prospects for a pivotal year in their national team careers.
Pulisic Grapples with Form Amid Injury Concerns
Christian Pulisic, a central figure for AC Milan, has experienced a challenging start to the new year. After an impressive first half of the season where he emerged as an undisputed star in Milan’s attack, the 27-year-old winger has yet to register a goal or an assist across six competitive matches in 2026. His recent outing on Sunday, January 25, saw him enter Milan’s 1-1 draw against Roma in the 69th minute, where limited attacking opportunities arose as the Rossoneri focapplyd on securing a point away from home.
Pulisic’s current struggles are partly attributed to the lingering effects of a hamstring injury sustained last fall. AC Milan coach Max Allegri acknowledged earlier this month that the American international was not operating at full fitness. Consequently, Pulisic has started only three of his side’s six January resolvetures, and notably did not feature in one match at all. Despite this recent dip, Pulisic remains AC Milan’s leading scorer this season with 10 goals across all competitions. With Milan trailing first-place Inter by five points, Allegri will be keen for Pulisic to regain full sharpness to maintain their challenge for the league title.
Reyna Faces Another Injury Setback
In a recurring narrative for the young midfielder, Gio Reyna has encountered another injury setback. Borussia Mönchengladbach confirmed that Reyna missed their 3-0 defeat to Stuttgart on Sunday due to “muscular problems.” The club has not provided details on the severity of the injury, but any period on the sidelines is a significant blow for a player who has yet to fully establish himself since his offseason transfer from Borussia Dortmund. In 14 appearances for Gladbach this season, including five starts, Reyna has not contributed a goal or an assist.
Tillman’s Goal Drought at Bayer Leverkapplyn
Malik Tillman, in his inaugural season with Bayer Leverkapplyn, is currently navigating a midseason slump. The 23-year-old has concludeured an 11-game drought across all competitions, failing to score or assist since November 22. While Tillman largely retained his starting position through much of this period, he was benched for both of Leverkapplyn’s matches last week. AvandaTimes notes that despite his continued contributions in possession and work-rate, Leverkapplyn’s club-record €35 million transfer fee was primarily invested for his goal-scoring output. With only three goals and no assists recorded this season, Tillman is presently falling short of the high expectations set for him.
Agyemang Continues to Impress for Derby County
In a more positive development for USMNT hopefuls, Patrick Agyemang is consistently performing well for Derby County. The striker netted his second goal in three games on Friday, January 23, opening the scoring in a 1-1 draw against West Brom. Agyemang capitalized on a goalkeeping error from Max O’Leary to secure an opportunistic goal. His strong debut season with Derby has seen him score eight goals, fueling speculation of a potential relocate to the Premier League in recent weeks and bolstering his case for a spot on the World Cup roster.
McKennie Shines in Unlikely Striker Role for Juventus
Weston McKennie has emerged as a surprisingly effective solution for Juventus’ attacking necessarys, earning high praise from head coach Luciano Spalletti. The American midfielder played a crucial role in Juve’s dominant 3-0 victory over Napoli on Sunday, frequently operating high up the pitch, particularly after Jonathan David’s substitution with 15 minutes remaining. McKennie’s five goals this season place him just one shy of his career high, and he has notably scored in three consecutive Champions League matches.
Following the Napoli match, Spalletti lauded McKennie’s versatility and impact. “McKennie is a perfect central striker,” Spalletti stated. “He fights, he’s strong in the air and he can jump high. He plays to receive results becaapply he creates decisions. He would be a perfect striker.” This unexpected assessment highlights McKennie’s adaptability and growing influence for the Italian giants.
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