Americans Abroad: USMNT star Antonee Robinson stellar again, Weston McKennie starts at left-back, Christian Pulisic still out

The weekend was particularly quiet for Americans Abroad. Winter break was a big reason, but injury absences have also made their mark on this holiday season.

Christian Pulisic is the major one, of course. The hope was that he could feature this weekend after recovering from a calf injury, but a late ankle setback ended those hopes. Now, Milan will have to wait on Pulisic, alongside teammate Yunus Musah, who is also out of action.

Juventus were missing Tim Weah, meanwhile. Tyler Adams didn't suit up for Bournemouth, ending the hopes of a showdown with Fulham and Robinson. Folarin Balogun, meanwhile, is a long-term injury absence, too.

It's tough for several USMNT stars at the moment. Injuries have arisen at rough time. Fortunately for the U.S., there are no meaningful national team games until March. But, even so, these absences have dampened the holiday season.

Antonee Robinson has surely heard the talk and, more importantly, he's surely heard the hype. He's been dubbed the Premier League's best left-back, and he continues to provide evidence to that fact.

Sunday's proof came in the form of an assist, as he teed up Harry Wilson in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. It was his seventh assist of the season. Only Mohammed Salah and Bukayo Saka have more in the Premier League this season. Robinson is playing with the elite, and he's doing it from a position that very rarely gets attention.

Robinson has to be feeling that love now. He's being linked with big moves and - and he's earned it. He's also proven that he can produce at Fulham so, in that sense, it's a win-win for him and the USMNT. No matter where he is playing come February, there will be reason to be excited about everything going on with the fullback.

His consistency is unmatched. His passing has been fantastic. His defending has made the difference. Right now, Robinson is the man to watch, and he's proving it every time he takes the field.

Whatever confidence was lost over the last few years, Brenden Aaronson has rediscovered. Leeds were playing away from home and needing points to continue their promotion push. It was Aaronson who went out and got them.

The USMNT midfielder provided a great run and a better finish, sliding a shot into the back of the net in Leeds' 1-0 win over Derby County. With the win, Leeds go atop the Championship table and, in this sort of form, they may not be in the Championship for long.

Aaronson has been a big part of that success. He now has seven goals, good for second on the team behind only Joel Piroe. It's a huge haul given how much he struggled over the last few years. Speaking to GOAL this fall, Aaronson set a mission to score 15 goals. That's looking entirely attainable.

Robinson wasn't the only USMNT left-back to stand out this weekend. Kristoffer Lund did his thing, too.

The defender isn't known as a goalscorer, but he found the back of the net in Serie B on Sunday to help Palermo earn a point against Citadella. The goal was his first of the campaign after scoring twice for Palermo last season.

Lund isn't going to threaten Robinson for his job any time soon. The Fulham star is far and away the best at the left-back position. That backup position, though, is still up for grabs, and it could be argued that Lund had fallen down the pecking order. He wasn't in November camp and there are several young stars - namely Caleb Wiley and John Tolkin - looking to make their own USMNT leap.

Scoring on Sunday won't hold them off, but it is a good step for Lund. He is just 22 - two months older than Tolkin. Lund is still an evolving player, one who is improving in Serie B. Because of that, he's one to keep an eye on on the road to 2026.

Juventus' Swiss army knife was at it again. Weston McKennie continues to fill whatever role the team needs.

McKennie went 63 minutes in the 2-2 draw with Fiorentina before being removed with a yellow card to his name. He'd earned that yellow just a few minutes prior and, to play it safe, Thiago Motta made the call to take McKennie out. Unfortunately for Juve, it collapsed from there, as they conceded a late goal to fall to yet another draw.

The American balled out before that, though. McKennie completed 35 of his 38 passes, including three into the final third. He had a few tough moments defensively but largely held his own, despite playing out of position.

At this point, though, is there really a position McKennie doesn't play? He's played left-back, right-back, central midfield, wide midfield and as a false nine. The only thing McKennie doesn't have on his resume is a game with the goalkeeper gloves on. You wouldn't be surprised if he did that, too.

No matter where McKennie plays, he contributes. Juventus have needed multiple reminders of that fact. The American star is holding down that left-back, but if another positional need arises, you can bet on him making his mark there, too.

Chris Richards is back in the Crystal Palace team, and he played his part in a big win. Palace find themselves in a relegation battle, which made Sunday's clash with Southampton all the more important. Southampton are the worst team in the Premier League. Earning three points against them was a must. Richards helped Palace do that, emerging with a 2-1 win.

The American defender, admittedly, could have done better on Southampton's goal, a 14th-minute finish from Tyler Dibling that could have snowballed. Richards and Palace were rock solid from there, with the USMNT defender making two interceptions while never being dribbled past. It was a good game, if not perfect.

Richards and Palace can build on this. Up next is a clash with Chelsea but, after that come two key games against Leicester and West Ham - teams also further down the table. These are the weeks that separate mid-table from relegation, and Richards helped Palace take a step by settling into a big win.

+ It was a cakewalk for Cameron Carter-Vickers and Celtic, who smashed St. Johnston, 4-0. The club's other American defender, Auston Trusty, remained on the bench in the win.

+ Gianluca Busio and Venezia fought hard, but ultimately conceded late in a 1-0 loss to Napoli. Busio went all 90 minutes, completing 81 percent of his passes while winning five of his eight duels.