Edu and Torres get minutes in midweek matches

Maurice Edu moved one step closer to returning to national team status after going 90 minutes in a Rangers' 1-0 victory over St. Mirren in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup. Edu stayed composed for most of the match, delivering tackles when needed, and occasionally getting into the attack. Edu even switched into the center back role for a short time. Rangers' Kris Boyd notched the winning goal just before the death to send Rangers through. Jose Francisco Torres' team suffered the opposite fate, losing 1-0 in a match to Chivas de Guadelajara. Unlike Edu, Torres went 71 minutes before coming off, filling his normal role in central midfield by creatively relaying the ball around the field and helping Pachuca keep possession.

Not all the American's got minutes however, as Stuart Holden was unable to even touch the bench of Bolton Wanderers.

U.S. El Salvador roster analysis

With the first game of 2010 behind them, a bad taste probably lingers in the mouths of most of the players who participated in the USA-Honduras match, not to mention their fans. A second chance comes against El Salvador for most of these players, who will have the help of Brian Ching and Michael Orozco. The following players are on Bob Bradley's roster:

GOALKEEPERS: Troy Perkins (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Zach Thornton (Chivas USA).

DEFENDERS: Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Michael Orozco (Philadelphia Union), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC).

MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Dax McCarty (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (D.C. United), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew).

FORWARDS: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake).

I could see Bradley going with this:

----------------------Findley----Ching---------------------

Davis------------------------------------------------Rogers

--------------------McCarty----Beckerman---------------

Bornstein--------------------------------------------Alston

------------------------Orozco----Marshall----------------

--------------------------------Perkins----------------------

Findley did well against Honduras considering how little he had to work with, showing his pace, tenacity, and work rate. Ching will be a good player for him to move off of and will provide good leadership for this squad. I put McCarty over Kljestan because there most likely will be no more chances for the FC Dallas midfielder to strut his stuff, at least not from the first whistle anyways. Moreover, McCarty had a better game in his short time than Kljestan did, helping the USA hold what little possession they had. He did well for FC Dallas in a deep-lying central role, so paired with Beckerman, someone who gets covers ground quickly offensively and defensively, the partnership could will really help the U.S. control the midfield. I would take Alston over Wynne because he is a possible future prospect who had a better season than Wynne did. Davis also had an excellent season in MLS and did well in little time against Honduras, keeping things simple in possession and delivering good set piece service, including the one on Clarence Goodson's goal.

My prediction? I'd say a 2-0 victory is a fair expectation and the goals will come from Beckerman and Findley with assists from McCarty and Ching.