GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including Pulisic and Dest in major matches

It was a miserable international break for the USMNT. They lost both games of a Nations League finals slate that they were supposed to win. First came the 1-0 to Panama. Then was a tepid, dreary, 2-1 defeat at the hands of Canada, a game that sorted of drifted away into irrelevance.

And with that, a glut of disappointed internationals return to their clubs. Christian Pulisic is the star man, as usual, and faces a big weekend for AC Milan as they take on Napoli. A loss would seem to end their hopes of playing in Europe next year – which would be a massive blow to a historic club.

Gio Reyna, too, returns to uncomfortable digs, with a manager under pressure and a big club also struggling in the middle of the pack. Recent minutes for Dortmund have offered hope. He will need to capitalize.

But there is good news out there. Sergino Dest is back in the fold for PSV, and looked in good touch in his return to play a few weeks ago. Antonee Robinson, too, is on the periphery of something special – and could help deliver a spot in the FA Cup semifinals if his Fulham side beat Crystal Palace on Saturday.

GOAL looks ahead at some of the biggest storylines to follow among Americans Abroad this weekend.

Getty ImagesReyna and opportunities missed

The most recent USMNT camp seemed a real chance for Gio Reyna to assert himself in the national team picture. The U.S. has an attacking midfield problem. Well, here's a very good attacking midfielder who can unlock defenses that pack in. If only there were matched up against a team such as Panama who does exactly that. However …

Whether by his own fitness levels, performances in training, or simply manager's judgment, Reyna never quite got a full look. He managed a tepid cameo against Canada – but by that time the game had long gone. So, back to square one we are with this most talented yet puzzling of players.

Let's look at the facts here. Dortmund are in 11th. They have already parted with one coach this year. They could sack another if results continue to go against them. There is talk from the back pages that Ralf Rangnick could take over as Sporting Director, which would seem to add some top-to-bottom clarity to the club.

Either way, these are confusing times, and the season is lost. Enter Reyna, who doesn't have much to lose, either. He may be out of form, but good players play. He needs minutes here, and Dortmund have suggested, in recent times that there could be some on offer.

His summer remains uncertain – will he play at the Gold Cup with the USMNT, Club World Cup with Dortmund, or be somewhere else by then? Who knows? Either way, this feels like an important weekend on the back of a disappointing window for the American.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPulisic and the actual final straw for Milan

Every week it seems the same. "This is it. This is the fixture Milan simply cannot afford to lose."

Well, the end game seems to finally be here. Milan are in ninth, and have won just two of their last five games. Lazio currently occupy the last remaining UEFA Conference League spot – and are four points ahead. Roma have won five on the bounce and are surging ahead of the .

Sure, the opportunity is there, but other teams just seem to want it more. In that light, this weekend's game with Napoli is crucial. Antonio Conte's side have ambitions of their own, and are currently three points behind title favorites Inter. A win – and Inter loss – could have them draw level atop the table. Milan really could kill two birds with one stone here.

And once again, Pulisic feels central to this all. The American hasn't exactly been the model of consistency of late. He scored three in his final two games before the international break, but pulled off a remarkable disappearing act for the U.S. in the Nations League finals.

Napoli weren't a kind opponent to him earlier in the season, either, the American playing just 29 minutes in a forgettable 2-0 loss back in October. Some of this certainly falls on manager Sergio Conceicao, who needs to figure out how to piece together his best side ahead of the game. There has been talk in the Italian press that he is experimenting with a new three-man defense – which would certainly offer a new look for the American. Either way, he simply has to perform.

AFPDest to ramp up his minutes

Perhaps the only beneficiary of this international break was the man who wasn't there. Sergino Dest had to wait 11 months before making his return from an ACL injury for PSV, and turned in an agreeable cameo for the Dutch side. It will be intriguing to see how Peter Bosz uses him from here on out.

Richie Ledezma, another American, has performed well in his spot. PSV are six points behind Ajax in the Eredivisie title race. The two sides meet on Sunday. It would seem a massive risk to throw Dest into the fire, especially while he is still finding his feet.

Still, Dest's attacking quality cannot be questioned, and he could yet be a game-changer in what is surely the biggest fixture of the year for Bosz and Co. Is he ready to start? Or will he try to be an impact player off the bench? Certainly, he will have some role to play in what it is a massive contest for the reigning champions.

Getty Images SportRobinson and FA Cup dreams

Robinson missed the USMNT's Nations League fixtures with an injury, and admitted that he needed two weeks off to work his way back to full fitness after playing through a knock for an extended period of time. It was a decision that certainly hurt Mauricio Pochettino, but could be of immense help to Fulham.

Let's face it, a chance to go to Wembley for an FA Cup semi final is far more significant than the England-born Robinson than any Nations League fixtures ever could be.

The club probably had some involvement here, but the star left back simply had to be in good touch for Saturday's fixture against Crystal Palace.

It won't be an easy one. While Fulham are four spots above the Eagles, Oliver Glasner has shown that he is capable of piecing a fine performance together – and showed a penchant for knockout football when he led Frankfurt to a Europa League win a few years ago.

This is a big one for Robinson, who might be 180 minutes away from providing something truly special for the fans.