U.S. U17 Men’s National Team midfielder Kyle Gurrieri completed a two-week trial in August with the youth outfits of two Championship sides. Gurrieri trained with Brentford FC and Nottingham Forest during his stay in England.

“It was a great experience to see the pace and how physical the game is played there,” Gurrieri said. “I now have first-hand experience that I can compete and do well in Europe.”

The midfielder impressed scouts with his performance at the Open Nordic Cup in Denmark in late July. The 16-year-old is a deep-lying playmaker. He is good on the tackle and does well distributing the ball from the center of the field.

For the past year, he has been a part of the U.S. Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida. This season, he is playing with his new club team, NJSCA, in the Development Academy.

He is on the roster with the NJCSA U18 squad, but yet to make an appearance through the first two weekends of the season.

Gurrieri said both clubs will continue to monitor his progress as the season progresses for any potential training opportunities in the future.

MLS Academies in Mexico

Toronto FC, Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo, and FC Dallas are all in Mexico this week to take part in the Torneo Internacional Fuerzas Basicas U15, which is a youth tournament between four MLS and four Mexican academies.

The opening day of the competition was not kind to MLS as all four of its academies suffered defeat: Chicago Fire lost 4-1 to Pachuca, Chivas defeated Houston Dynamo 3-1, Atlas topped FC Dallas 4-1, and Morelia beat Toronto FC 3-0.

MLS youth sides still have time to turn it around. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals of the competition. The final is scheduled for Sept. 20 in Estadio Azteca.

Stoke City jumps the Shark

Stoke City became the latest English club to try to infiltrate the youth soccer business in North America this week. The English club announced plans on Monday to partner with “a select number of youth soccer clubs” in the U.S. and Canada.

The press release does not mention which clubs Stoke City is targeting for this partnership. The English club is giving “the opportunity to work with the Club’s Academy coaches in both North America and the United Kingdom, offering an insight into the player development program of a leading Academy.”

Updates on U.S. players in England

U.S. U20 Men’s National Team forward Andrija Novakovich scored for Reading U18 over the weekend in a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Novakovich scored from the penalty spot.

U.S. U17 MNT midfielder Luca de la Torre played all 90 minutes in Fulham U18’s 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. The game report mentions that de la Torre had a header saved off the line, which was the best scoring chance of the game.

Lynden Gooch, a midfielder for the U.S. U20 MNT, played 87 minutes on Monday in Sunderland U21’s 0-4 loss at Manchester United. Sunderland was overmatched from the opening whistle as Manchester United trotted out a squad with Adnan Januzaj, Luke Shaw, and Anderson.

Daniel Barbir, a U.S. U17 MNT defender, starter for West Bromwich Albion U18 in a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The game marked the official debut for Barbir with the club after receiving his international clearance.

Kyle Scott, a midfielder for the U.S. U18 MNT, started and scored for Chelsea U18 in a 2-2 draw against West Ham on Saturday. Scott scored the opener in the third minute when he punched home a cross from close range. Scott played the full 90 minutes. U.S. youth national team prospect Djair Parfitt played the full 90 minutes for West Ham.