All eyes on the English Championship! Josh Sargent, Daryl Dike, Haji Wright and the USMNT striker battle for Copa America selection

As we wrap up this first month of 2024, we have a fairly good idea of what the top of the USMNT depth chart looks like at the striker position. Sitting atop it is Folarin Balogun, whose move to Monaco hasn't quite been a home run, but has been good enough for him to keep his place in Berhalter's preferred line-up. The big 2023 recruit's first real tests will come in the summer of 2024, when the USMNT get their first true glimpse into how their No.9 can or can't elevate them against some of the world's elite.

Just behind him is Ricardo Pepi, who has reignited his career at PSV. After a move to Augsburg went all sorts of wrong, Pepi has rebuilt himself in the Eredivisie, first on loan with Groningen last season and now with PSV. He isn't quite a starter in Eindhoven, with PSV easing him into things, but he's impressed with some big goals, including the strike which sealed the club's place in the Champions League knockouts.

There are North American-based options in the mix, too, players like Jesus Ferreira, Brandon Vazquez or even newcomer Duncan McGuire, but it seems that the race for a third striker spot will take place in England over the coming months.

In the initial weeks of the Championship season, Sargent was on fire. Fresh off a campaign that saw him score a respectable 13 goals for Norwich City, Sargent scored three in his first five games of 2023-24, setting the tone for what looked like a true breakout season at Carrow Road.

Unfortunately, though, disaster struck, as Sargent damaged ligaments in his ankle on August 26. He underwent surgery soon after, which kept him out of action until the New Year. On January 1, however, Sargent proved that the injury was a merely a speed bump, as he scored on just his second appearance back, netting in a 1-1 draw with Southampton to prove that he had plenty left to offer now that he's fit.

"Coming back from injury, in your head you think 'am I going to be the same player, is everything going to work out?', so it's amazing to get on the scoresheet and hopefully I can return to good form," he told BBC Radio Norfolk. "It's been a long time, I still need to get in shape, my conditioning needs to get better, but it's obviously a very good feeling to be back on the pitch with the boys.”

In the weeks since, Sargent scored another goal, leading the way in a 2-0 win over West Brom to take his tally to five in just 514 Championship minutes this season. With that goal, Norwich got one over on the Baggies, who are just welcoming back their own USMNT star as the focal point of their attack...

Over the last few years, the world hasn't seen enough of Dike. Injuries have robbed him of some major chances in the Championship, and now the former Orlando City man looks eager to make up for lost time.

Dike recently made his return for West Brom having missed nine months after tearing his Achilles all the way back in April 2023. That setback came after a hamstring injury had shortened his debut campaign at The Hawthorns, limiting him to just two appearances in that first half-season after joining in January 2021.

Now fit, Dike is back with a vengeance. He's already back scoring, having netted what must have felt like a massive goal in a 4-1 FA Cup win over Aldershot. The celebration said it all as Dike, overcome with emotion, screamed his heart out in celebration after finally getting back to what he does best.

In just about 1300 total minutes, Dike has eight goals for West Brom, and the hope is that there will be plenty more to come if he can finally put his injury issues behind him.

While American soccer's eyes have been fixed on others, Wright has quietly been thriving during the first year of his own Championship adventure. He joined Coventry last summer to try to lead the club back to the Premier League for the first time since 2001 while proving that he can do in a league as gruelling as the Championship.

So far, he's taken his opportunity. Through 26 matches, Wright is currently on eight goals and five assists, a pretty good haul since he's still adjusting to life with his new club. Coventry were hovering near the bottom of the league for some time, but a recent stretch of six wins during a nine-game unbeaten run has vaulted the Sky Blues up to sixth and into the fight for a playoff berth.

Wright has scored in each of his last two appearances during that run, netting against both Middlesbrough and Swansea in recent weeks.

What makes this race so interesting is that all three are very different players with different skills, all of which could help the USMNT.

Wright, of course, was the only USMNT striker to score at the World Cup, even if he didn't know too much about his flicked-on finish against the Netherlands. In addition to that goal, Wright also put in a heck of a performance against England, with his ability to hold the ball and press the Three Lions backline proving vital to a masterful U.S. gameplan. In Wright, the U.S. has a more old-school striker, one capable of holding the ball while also getting his share of goals.

Sargent, meanwhile, is best known for his movement, for his ability to get into dangerous places. His recent goal against West Brom was a good example of a smart, direct run from a player who is adding new tricks to his game every year. Sargent is also generally good at linking up play, making him a solid player for the USMNT's star-studded wingers to play off of, as evidenced by his contribution to Tim Weah's World Cup-opening goal against Wales.

And then there's Dike. A big, strong, physical striker with plenty of pace to match, Dike is something of a battering ram. He can bully defenders and run right past them before showcasing his knack for putting the ball in the net. For some time, he's been seen by USMNT fans as an ideal super-sub, a player that can come off the bench and create some chaos if Plan A isn't working out.

All three have their merits and all three will have time to make their case over the next few months. If one of them gets hot, a Copa America spot will likely await.