Texas native Weston McKennie makes first start for Schalke 04

Former FC Dallas Academy star and Little Elm native Weston McKennie made his first start for German club FC Schalke 04 in first round DFB Cup action yesterday.

By most reports McKennie had a terrific game against 4th division side Dynamo Berlin in 54 minutes of action. According to his coach, McKennie was a planned substation.

McKennie is a former standout for the FC Dallas Academy but turned down the hometown club's professional offer in favor of signing in Germany. Losing the US Youth International (17s, 19s, and 20s) was a blow for FC Dallas and underlines one massive issue with the Academy League: losing superstar players to big clubs with no compensation.

None the less, McKennie's star…