Chandler's injury opens door for Cherundolo re-emergence

Timing sure hasn't been Timmy Chandler's thing.

For Chandler, the German-American right back who was finally cap-tied to the U.S. in January, being absent in big spots for the U.S. is not new. He sat out the entire semifinal round of World Cup qualifying and had to miss the last two qualifiers in March with an injury. Now, with friendlies and qualifiers on the horizon, Chandler is a doubt.

He's set to miss three to four weeks with a left knee ligament injury, according to an announcement Tuesday from his club, FC Nurnberg. His place in friendlies against Belgium and Germany and World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, Panama and Honduras is now in serious question. The U.S. fared fine without him against Costa Rica and Mexico with Geoff Cameron stepping into the void, and a place might reopen on the back line for national-team staple Steve Cherundolo.

After missing a few months with a knee injury of his own, Cherundolo is back in the mix for Hannover 96 and is again an option for Jurgen Klinsmann. The 34-year-old veteran, according to reports from Germany, is on the cusp of a contract extension that will secure his place as the "Mayor of Hannover" for the final year leading up to the World Cup. He is also a game away from setting the club's mark for games played at 367. With no player staking a secure claim to his right back spot while he was out -- Chandler was all out of sorts against Honduras, and Cameron had his moments in the following two qualifiers and has been in and out of the Stoke City lineup in recent weeks -- the reliable Cherundolo may yet have a major role to play going forward.

One player who could be joining Chandler and Cherundolo in the Bundesliga next season is German-American striker Andrew Wooten, 23, who is coming off his second multi-goal game of the season. On loan at soon-to-be-relegated Sandhausen in Germany's second tier, Wooten scored twice this weekend to up his season total to seven. Meanwhile, his parent club, Kaiserslautern, is in prime position to play in a promotion playoff (which could happen against either Michael Parkhurst's Augsburg or Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams' Hoffenheim). Should Kaiserslautern make the leap, Wooten would be in the mix to accompany the club.

Aside from Wooten, the other American goalscorer abroad this past week was Alejandro Bedoya, who remained in top form in Sweden. Bedoya scored for the third time in four games and increased his total to a single-season, career-high five goals in 10 games across all competitions for Allsvenskan-leading Helsingborg. Other notable performances included Brad Guzan backstopping Aston Villa to a second straight win and the brink of safety from relegation; Eric Lichaj seeing his first minutes for Villa since an FA Cup match on Jan. 25; and Tim Howard posting his second straight clean sheet for Everton and his fourth in the last five games. Here is how the Americans abroad contingent as a whole fared (season statistics encompass all competitions):

England

Premier League

Geoff Cameron, D/M, Stoke City -- In the 18, came on as a halftime substitute in Stoke's 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Monday. SEASON: 36 games, 31 starts

Cody Cropper, GK, Southampton -- Not in the 18 for Southampton's 1-0 loss to Tottenham on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Clint Dempsey, M/F, Tottenham -- Started, played 72 minutes in Tottenham's 1-0 win over Southampton on Saturday. SEASON: 40 games, 30 starts, 11 goals

Brad Friedel, GK, Tottenham -- In the 18, did not play in Tottenham's 1-0 win over Southampton. SEASON: 20 games, 20 starts, 30 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa -- Started, played 90 minutes and made one save in Villa's 2-1 win over Norwich City on Saturday. SEASON: 35 games, 35 starts, 62 goals allowed, 6 clean sheets

Tim Howard, GK, Everton -- Started, played 90 minutes, made three saves and earned the clean sheet in Everton's 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Sunday. SEASON: 38 games, 38 starts, 41 goals allowed, 9 clean sheets

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa -- In the 18, came on as a 27th-minute substitute in Villa's 2-1 win over Norwich City. SEASON: 22 games, 13 starts

Brek Shea, M, Stoke City -- Not in the 18 for Stoke's 1-1 draw with Sunderland. SEASON: 2 games

League Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County -- Not in the 18 for Derby County's season-ending 1-0 win over Millwall on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games, 1 start

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton -- In the 18, did not play in Bolton's season-ending 2-2 draw with Blackpool on Saturday. The Trotters missed out on the promotion playoffs via goal differential and will remain in England's second tier next season. SEASON: 8 games, 4 starts (4 games, 4 starts with Sheffield Wednesday)

Tim Ream, D, Bolton -- Started, was substituted for in second-half stoppage time of Bolton's 2-2 draw with Blackpool. SEASON: 17 games, 15 starts

Jonathan Spector, D/M, Birmingham City -- Not in the 18 for Birmingham's season-ending 1-1 draw with Blackburn on Saturday. SEASON: 30 games, 26 starts, 1 goal

Zak Whitbread, D, Leicester City -- Not in the 18 for Leicester City's 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday that clinched the club's place in the promotion playoffs. SEASON: 17 games, 15 starts, 1 goal

Germany

Bundesliga

Timmy Chandler, D, FC Nurnberg -- In the 18, did not play in Nurnberg's 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. Chandler will miss the rest of the season with a left knee injury, according to Nurnberg's website. SEASON: 31 games, 30 starts, 1 goal

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 -- In the 18, did not play in Hannover's 2-2 draw with Mainz 05 on Saturday. SEASON: 31 games, 30 starts

Fabian Johnson, D, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim -- Started, played the first half of Hoffenheim's 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen on Saturday. SEASON: 28 games, 28 starts, 3 goals

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Schalke's 1-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday. SEASON: 31 games, 26 starts, 2 goals

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Augsburg -- In the 18, did not play in Augsburg's 2-0 loss to SC Freiburg on Sunday. SEASON: 23 games, 21 starts, 2 goals (21 games, 20 starts, 2 goals with FC Nordsjaelland)

Danny Williams, D/M, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim -- Not in the 18 for Hoffenheim's 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen. SEASON: 21 games, 17 starts, 1 goal

2. Bundesliga

John Anthony Brooks, D, Hertha Berlin -- Started, played 90 minutes in Berlin's 3-2 win over Erzgebirge Aue on Friday. SEASON: 27 games, 24 starts

Joe Gyau, M, St. Pauli -- Not in the 18 for St. Pauli's 0-0 draw with MSV Duisburg on Sunday. SEASON: 15 games, 6 starts

Alfredo Morales, D/M, Hertha Berlin -- Started, played 90 minutes in Berlin's 3-2 win over Ezgebirge Aue. SEASON: 9 games, 5 starts

Bobby Wood, F, TSV 1860 Munich -- In the 18, did not play in Munich's 3-0 win over Union Berlin on Sunday. SEASON: 14 games, 5 starts, 2 goals

Andrew Wooten, F, SV Sandhausen -- Started, played 90 minutes and scored two goals in Sandhausen's 3-1 win over FC Ingolstadt 04 on Saturday. Wooten broke a 1-1 draw in the 58th minute before icing the game in the 83rd minute. SEASON: 27 games, 19 starts, 7 goals

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Italy

Serie A

Michael Bradley, M, AS Roma -- Started, played 90 minutes in Roma's 1-0 win over Fiorentina on Saturday. SEASON: 31 games, 26 starts, 2 goals

Spain

Primera Division

Oguchi Onyewu, D, Malaga -- Not in the 18 for Malaga's 1-0 loss to Granada on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts, 2 goals

Segunda Division

Carlos Bocanegra, D, Racing Santander -- Started, played 90 minutes in Racing Santander's 2-1 loss to Almeria on Sunday. SEASON: 25 games, 25 starts (7 games, 7 starts with Rangers)

Netherlands

Eredivisie

Jozy Altidore, F, AZ Alkmaar -- Started, played 60 minutes and picked up a yellow card in AZ's 4-0 win over PEC Zwolle on Sunday. SEASON: 41 games, 41 starts, 30 goals

Belgium

Pro League

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht -- Started, played 90 minutes in Anderlecht's 2-0 win over Standard Liege on Sunday, which has the team atop the Belgian playoff standings by two points with three games remaining. SEASON: 46 games, 39 starts, 3 goals

Austria

Bundesliga

Terrence Boyd, F, Rapid Vienna -- In the 18, did not play in Rapid Vienna's 3-1 win over Sturm Graz on Sunday. SEASON: 38 games, 31 starts, 16 goals

Turkey

Super Lig

Maurice Edu, M, Bursaspor -- Not in the 18 for Bursaspor's 4-2 win over Orduspor on Saturday. SEASON: 14 games, 12 starts (1 game with Stoke City)

Portugal

Primeira Liga

Caleb Patterson-Sewell, GK, Vitoria Setubal --.Not in the 18 for Vitoria Setubal's 1-0 loss to Academica on Sunday. SEASON: 5 games, 5 starts, 12 goals allowed, 1 clean sheet

Tony Taylor, F, Estoril Praia -- In the 18, did not play in Estoril's 1-1 draw with Benfica on Monday. SEASON: 17 games, 4 starts, 1 goal

Mexico

Liga MX

DaMarcus Beasley, M, Puebla -- Started, played 90 minutes in Puebla's season-ending 3-2 win over Queretaro on Saturday. Puebla finished the season in 12th place and missed the eight-team playoff liguilla. SEASON: 21 games, 15 starts, 5 goals

Jonathan Bornstein, D, Tigres UANL -- Not in the 18 for Tigres' 2-0 win over Club America on Saturday. Tigres wrapped up the top seed in the liguilla and will face Monterrey in the quarterfinals. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Edgar Castillo, D, Tijuana -- Started, played 90 minutes in Tijuana's 0-0 draw with Palmeiras in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores round of 16 tie on Wednesday. Castillo also started and played 90 minutes in a season-ending 4-0 win over Chivas de Guadalajara in league play Saturday. The club, which won the 2012 Apertura championship, failed to qualify for the Clausura liguilla, finishing 10th. SEASON: 16 games, 16 starts, 1 goal

Joe Corona, M, Tijuana -- Started, played 90 minutes in Tijuana's 0-0 draw with Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores. Corona was in the 18 and came on as a 76th-minute substitute in a 4-0 win over Chivas de Guadalajara in league play. SEASON: 19 games, 13 starts, 1 goal

Michael Orozco Fiscal, D, Puebla -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Puebla's 3-2 win over Queretaro. SEASON: 19 games, 19 starts

Greg Garza, D/M, Tijuana -- Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 0-0 draw with Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores or a 4-0 win over Chivas de Guadalajara in league play. SEASON: 6 games, 3 starts

Herculez Gomez, F, Santos Laguna -- In the 18, came on as a 62nd-minute substitute and picked up a yellow card in Santos Laguna's 4-2 loss to Monterrey in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final Wednesday, with the club conceding four goals in the final 30 minutes to miss out on winning the regional title. Gomez was also in the 18 and came on as a 61st-minute substitute in a 2-1 loss to Morelia on Saturday. Santos Laguna clinched a place in the liguilla and will face Atlas in the quarterfinals. SEASON: 23 games, 19 starts, 6 goals

Jose Torres, M, Tigres UANL -- Started, played 87 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Tigres' 2-0 win over Club America. SEASON: 17 games, 17 starts

Denmark

Charlie Davies, F, Randers FC -- In the 18, came on as a second-half stoppage time substitute in Randers' 1-0 win over AGF Aarhus on Sunday. SEASON: 25 games, 3 starts

Clarence Goodson, D, Brondby IF -- Started, played 90 minutes in Brondby's 0-0 draw with FC Copenhagen on Sunday. SEASON: 19 games, 18 starts, 1 goal

Conor O'Brien, M/F, FC Nordsjaelland -- In the 18, did not play in Nordsjaelland's 2-2 draw with Silkeborg on Friday. SEASON: 29 games, 18 starts, 5 goals (22 games, 12 starts, 5 goals with Sonderjyske)

Sweden

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Helsingborg IF -- Started, played 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in the 61st minute of Helsingborg's 1-0 win over Syrianska FC on Sunday. Bedoya got positioning on his defender in the box, turned and hit a left-footed shot from close range at an acute angle to account for the game's only goal. SEASON: 10 games, 10 starts, 5 goals

Brian Span, M, Djurgarden IF -- In the 18, came on as a 58th-minute substitute in Djurgarden's 1-0 win over Orgryte in the semifinals of the Svenska Cupen (Swedish Cup) on Wednesday. Djurgarden will play IFK Goteborg in the final on May 26. Span also started and played 66 minutes in a 5-1 loss to Atvidaberg in league play Saturday. SEASON: 7 games, 2 starts

Norway

Steve Clark, GK, Honefoss -- Started, played 120 minutes in Honefoss' 1-1 draw (4-2 win in penalties) with Birkebeineren in the second round of the NM Cupen (Norwegian Cup) on Wednesday. Clark also started and played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Tromso in league pla Sunday. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts, 12 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

Mix Diskerud, M, Rosenborg BK -- In the 18, did not play in Rosenborg's 5-0 win over Strindheim in the second round of the NM Cupen on Wednesday. Diskerud started and played 61 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Aalesund in league play Saturday. SEASON: 7 games, 7 starts, 2 goals

Josh Gatt, M, Molde FK -- Not in the 18 for Molde's 5-1 win over Byasen in the second round of the NM Cupen on Thursday or a 1-1 draw with IK Start in league play Monday. SEASON: 6 games, 5 starts

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