EFL Championship’s Americans to watch: Key USMNT talents like Josh Sargent, Haji Wright to have big roles

This weekend the Championship kicks off as the journey to the richest game in sport begins, and you can catch the action on Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network and CBS Sports Network all season long.

As the season prep continues, it’s a good time to catch up on the baker’s dozen of Americans sprinkled around the league. Some like Brenden Aaronson, Josh Sargent and Haji Wright will be critical in their team’s performance this season while others have some work to do to get into the starting XI.

Here’s are the Americans to watch in the electric league and the weekend schedule for CBS Sports’ coverage of the Championship, League One and League Two:

Opening EFL schedule

Friday, Aug. 9
Blackburn vs. Derby County, 3 p.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network
Preston North End vs. Sheffield United, 3 p.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network

Saturday, Aug. 10
Oxford United vs. Norwich City, 7:30 a.m. on Paramount+
Leeds United vs. Portsmouth, 7:30 a.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network
Middlesbrough vs. Swansea City, 7:30 a.m. on Paramount+
Cardiff City vs. Sunderland, 7:30 a.m. on Paramount+
Queens Park Rangers vs. West Brom, 7:30 a.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network
Milton Keynes Dons vs. Bradford City, 10 a.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network
Birmingham City vs. Reading, 12:30 p.m. on Paramount+
Wrexham vs. Wycombe Wanderers, 12:30 p.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network

Sunday, Aug. 11
Sheffield Wednesday vs. Plymouth Argyle, 11 a.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network

Monday, Aug. 12
Luton Town vs. Burnley, 3 p.m. on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network

MID Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)

Season outlook: Back at Leeds United from a loan to Union Berlin, Brenden Aaronson will have a chance to lead the team back to the Premier League. Leeds came close last season but ultimately fell short after losing to Southampton. With Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville now gone from the club, there is a large creative void to be filled.

What to be excited about: Aaronson is someone who needs consistency in his environment at this stage in his career. He started brightly for Leeds in the Premier League but the move to Germany had highs and lows. Ending the season with helping Union Berlin stay in the top flight is a positive and if Aaronson can lead Leeds back to the Premier League, it’ll be a great step for his career.

DEF Reggie Cannon (QPR)

Season outlook: Playing for QPR is tough because while this team has history in the Premier League, the Hoops’ best-case scenario is making the playoffs in the Championship. For a defender, this means that you’ll have to put in quite a lot of work in a tough league like the Championship but that could prove beneficial for Cannon’s USMNT prospects.

What to be excited about: After the issues of getting paid on time in Portugal, Cannon is beginning a season with a team having a full preseason behind him and plenty of positivity. That level of security, being at a functioning club, has to be taken into account. With backup right back as a hole in the USMNT setup, Cannon can end up in an upcoming national team camp.

FWD Daryl Dike (West Brom)

Season outlook: Like most seasons, the Baggies are pushing for promotion back to the Premier League. They’ve been adding to Carlos Corberan’s squad but so far most moves have been on free transfers and loans. That doesn’t mean that these players won’t be able to help but it shows that when West Brom have been out of the top flight since 2018, they’ll need a strong promotion push to justify splashing out on bigger moves.

What to be excited about: If Daryl Dike can stay healthy, he can be the guy for the Baggies. Despite only making 14 starts in 2022-23 as he continues to deal with injuries, he was able to score seven goals, assisting one more, his second best return in his four seasons in the Championship. This is despite never cracking 1500 minutes played in a season during his professional career. Staying healthy may be easier said than done but when he’s on the pitch, Dike knows where the back of the net is.

MID Lynden Gooch (Stoke City)

Season outlook: Stoke City is another team that despite having a Premier League pedigree, making it to the playoffs would be considered a strong success. There are some exciting players in the side like midfielder Wouter Burger but the performance of Lynden Gooch will play quite a role in Stoke’s fortunes.

What to be excited about: Versatility is the name of the game. Able to play as a winger, attacking midfielder or wide defender, Gooch is a coach’s dream due to where he can line up. Someone who will always put in a shift, while Gooch may not have a future with the USMNT, it doesn’t mean that he can’t help push this team into a playoff spot. 

MID Duane Holmes (Preston North End)

Season outlook: Preston are a side that will be in the mix for relegation from the Championship so they’ll need everything that they can get from experienced players like Duane Holmes. 

What to be excited about: Considering the outlook for the team, there isn’t a ton to be excited about but Holmes is experienced in tough situations in the EFL. His experience will be quite a boost to Preston and the American will be leaned upon in the squad.

FWD Matthew Hoppe (Middlesbrough)

Season outlook: On the hunt for promotion, Middlesbrough needs to find a way into the automatic promotion spots because they can’t win finals at Wembley Stadium. With a deep squad, they can compete with the Championship’s best but defense has been an issue with Boro conceding too many goals. 

What to be excited about: Matthew Hoppe has been bouncing from club to club as of late and while he’ll be a backup to Emmanuel Latte Lath, there are so many games to go around in the Championship that he’ll get minutes to get back on the right track. Hoppe is someone who needs to prove that he belongs at this level and Michael Carrick will give him a chance to show that.

MID Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)

Season outlook: To help with Boro’s defensive issues, midfield improvements will go a long way. Aidan Morris joining Haden Hackney could give Middlesbrough a strong base to build upon.

What to be excited about: It doesn’t get much better for a young midfielder than to learn from a legend at their position like Carrick, and it’s something to be excited about. Morris has stepped up to meet every challenge so far in his career but the move to England will be among the toughest that he’s seen so far. Being able to respond to this will be quite something for the 22-year-old.

GK Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City)

Season outlook: Entering the summer without a transfer embargo, Cardiff City are reloading to push for a playoff place. With additions like Chris Willock and Callum Chambers, big things are expected from the Bluebirds and they’ll have an American in net to protect the defense. 

What to be excited about: Ethan Horvath is a solid keeper who can help lead a team to promotion with his performances. Having already seen Luton Town through the playoffs, Horvath has invaluable experience that will be great at Cardiff City. 

FWD Luca Koleosho (Burnley)

Season outlook: Back in the Championship after Premier League relegtion, Burnley are now under new management. Vincent Kompany is gone to Bayern Munich and former Fulham manager Scott Parker is now in charge. This is a squad that has enough talent to make it back to the Premier League.

What to be excited about: Luca Koleosho may not have decided his international future but he’s someone who could break through if he doesn’t end up with one of the many nations that he’s eligible to represent. Koelosho can play for the United States, Canada, Nigeria and Italy so he’ll have no shortage of options if he’s able to perform and lead Burnley back to the Premier League.

ST Josh Sargent (Norwich City)

Season outlook: David Wagner has been replaced by Johannes Thorup but the goal remains the same in seeking promotion to the Premier League after failing to advance in the playoffs last season. Now in their third straight season in the Championship, the Canaries won’t want to spend much more time in the second division but to get promoted they’ll need another strong season from Josh Sargent.

What to be excited about: After scoring 16 goals last season, Sargent is a player who will be in the mix for the Championship Golden Boot. With newfound confidence as the man leading the line for Norwich, Sargent is set for another important season.

DEF Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City)

Season outlook: Defense was the major issue for Norwich as they conceded 64 goals last season. Under Thorup, that’s something that quickly needs to be tidied up and Jonathan Tomkinson could be part of the solution. 

What to be excited about: Back from an impressive loan at Bradford City, Tomkinson will have a chance to stay with the squad this season. If he impresses, there’s no reason why he can’t end up in the starting lineup helping assist the Canaries to promotion.

DEF Auston Trusty (Sheffield United)

Season outlook: Last season was one to forget for Sheffield United conceding a Premier League record 104 goals. Back in the Championship, this is a team used to working their way back to the Premier League and those goals conceded won’t be as much of an issue in the lower division. 

What to be excited about: Despite the defense being poor, the Premier League minutes were important for Auston Trusty as he did look like a competent defender at times. With another season and more reinforcement alongside him, the Blades can be in a spot to push for right back to the Premier League with his help.

FWD Haji Wright (Coventry City)

Season outlook: While the FA Cup semifinal appearance against Manchester United may be a moment to remember, missing out on the Championship playoffs will have left a sour taste in their mouths. Coventry have a strong team that can put the ball in the back of the net but they also haven’t been in the Premier Leauge since the 2000-01 season.

What to be excited about: Like Sargent, Haji Wright will be one of the most important players in his team’s quest for promotion. Alonside Elias Simms, Wright will be part of a formidable attack but also he’ll be spending a second season at a club. Wright has been at three different clubs since 2020 but in the Championship he’s growing and becoming a reliable forward which will also keep him in the USMNT picture.