Tudor exit means McKennie must prove himself all over again

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The adrenalin jolt that accompanies the start of the European club season has long since passed. The weather is getting colder -- in most places, anyway -- and the grind of the season is very much underway. The ups have given way to downs, or vice versa.

So it goes for members of the U.S. men's national team. Injuries have piled up, and in some cases, FIFA World Cup dreams are in peril. But others have risen to the challenge, and have considerable momentum behind them.

Throughout the season, ESPN will be monitoring the progress of the player pool, delivering insights into those whose form or fitness has made them particularly intriguing. We call it the USMNT's countdown to…