Different-Look US Preps for Slovakia Test

To call 2009 a busy year for the U.S. national team would be an understatement. Even labeling it a marathon wouldn't be quite right. An ultra-marathon might make more sense.

Bob Bradley's team has participated in two tournaments -- the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup -- along with the final round of CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualification. All told the U.S. has already played 22 matches -- going 13-6-3 -- on two different continents.

The grueling year winds down with a trip to a third continent -- Europe -- when the U.S. places fellow 2010 World Cup qualifier Slovakia in Bratislava. (10 a.m., Fox Soccer)

Saturday's match might be more significant from a U.S. perspective for which players aren't on the field, than who are. All-time leading goal-scorer Landon Donovan will be Stateside following Friday night's Los Angeles Galaxy/Houston Dynamo MLS semifinal, which also ties up Stuart Holden and Brian Ching. By the same token Mexican League players Jose Francisco Torres and Edgar Castillo weren't available for the match.

More concerning for the U.S. are the long-term injuries to forward Charlie Davies and defender Oguchi Onyewu, as both players status for June 2010 in South Africa remain very murky. Also absent will be defender Jay DeMerit, who is recovering from eye surgery.

To top it over, No. 1 keeper Tim Howard was left back in England with Everton, as Bradley looks to give Brad Guzan, Troy Perkins and Marcus Hahnemann looks.

Since the game is a friendly, expect Bradley to make the most of his substitution options.

The two areas to look at are at forward and central defense.

At forward, two players called back from the international wilderness -- Eddie Johnson and Jeff Cunningham -- figure to get extended looks to see if they can fill the void due to the injury to Davies. Both are interesting cases, with Johnson back in the Fulham squad -- although not playing regularly -- looking to regain the momentum from 2005/06 when many U.S. fans figured he'd become the "next big thing" for the team. Cunningham, meanwhile, has toiled away in MLS and was the league's leading goal-scorer this season with 17 at the age of 33. Cunningham can be easily dismissed by many fans, but he does have a nose for goal -- something the U.S. could certainly use.

With the depth at forward thin for the U.S., both players should get ample looks between Saturday and next June to see if they're worthy of inclusion in the final 23-man roster.

At defense it figures to be a very makeshift lineup. Captain Carlos Bocanegra should start in the center, with guys like MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall, Clarence Goodson and Jimmy Conrad getting some time to see if they're ready to step in should Onyewu knee injury prevent him from reaching match fitness by the time of the World Cup.

Even with all the changes, the U.S. still has usual starters Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore in the mix, so the game isn't a total throwaway.

If anything, Saturday's match, coupled with Wednesday's match in Denmark gives Bob Bradley a final chance to look at some players and build on the U.S.'s depth. At the same time he'll likely keep his fingers crossed that nobody called into the squad is felled by injury, which would make 2009 -- an otherwise fine year by the U.S. -- end on a sour note.