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Mikel Arteta voiced his disappointment after his Arsenal side conceded late on at Sunderland on Saturday evening. Brian Brobbey scored a stoppage-time equaliser in the eventual 2-2 draw as the Dutchman acrobatically finished past David Raya. The result means Arsenal sit just six points clear at the top of the Premier League table following Saturday's action.

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  Arsenal miss chance to open up big lead

  Arsenal went behind through a Dan Ballard goal 10 minutes before the break. The former Gunners trainee rifled past Raya from close range after being played in by fellow defender Nordi Mukiele.

  Mikel Arteta's side pushed hard for an equaliser after the restart and were duly rewarded in the 54th minute as Bukayo Saka beat Robin Roefs at his near post after some good pressing by the visitors to force Enzo Le Fee into a mistake in his own half.

  Martin Zubimendi cannoned an effort off the crossbar as Arsenal looked to go in front and it was Leandro Trossard who came up clutch once more to rifle past Roefs from 20 yards.

  Arsenal looked set for a huge three points but were forced to share the spoils as Brobbey managed to work his way between Raya and Gabriel Magalhaes to bag a late equaliser. 

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• 'I'm upset and frustrated'

  And after the stalemate at the Stadium of Light, Arteta admitted his is 'upset and frustrated' as Arsenal were unable to hold out for what would have been a huge win in the Premier League title race. When asked what his emotions were in that 94th minute, Arteta replied: "Again, unsatisfied because I want to win. And the game was almost there, but you know this is the Premier League and the manner that they play, they're going to hang in there when it's just one goal difference there.

  "I'm upset and frustrated because it's an action that we can defend better, but as well you have to give credit to the opposition to do what they've done, to put the ball there, to head the ball the way they've done it, and then they strike it to do that action and to put the ball in the net and sometimes you have to do that and recognise that as well."

  And on the clean sheet record ending, Arteta said: ""I felt a pain in my tummy. I don't want to concede any goals. It was a goal and put the game in a difficult position."

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  Arteta reserves praise for Sunderland

  Arteta was also asked about Sunderland, and whether the other title challengers will have a difficult game at the Stadium of Light this season. The Black Cats have started the season brilliantly following their promotion, with Saturday's draw taking them up into the top four.

  "That's the Premier League, you don't get to any place in the Premier League where you think you're going to have a comfortable afternoon, evening, how you want to call it," Arteta added. "And again, it's not a coincidence what they are doing, and they decide to be where they are and we do as well."

  Sunderland have already claimed some notable results this season as they beat Chelsea, and drew with Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. Regis Le Bris' side are also the first team to score more than once against Arsenal since Liverpool back in May.

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• Tough games to come for the Gunners

  Arsenal will be hoping that title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool play out a draw when they duo meet at the Etihad Stadium. The Gunners' title rivals sit seven and eight points, respectively, off the north London side, and a stalemate in Manchester will see Arteta's men retain their six-point gap at the top heading into the international break.

  Arsenal then face a testing return to domestic duties later this month as they take on London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea to see out November. Sandwiched in between the successive London derbies is a Champions League tie with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

  Bayern, like Arsenal, were also held to a 2-2 draw on Saturday as a late Harry Kane header rescued a point for the Bavarian giants. Vincent Kompany's men are one of three teams, along with the Gunners and Serie A giants Inter, to boast a 100% record in the Champions League this season.

Spencer Horwitz is on the move for the second time in the same night.

The Cleveland Guardians traded Horwitz to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night in exchange for three pitchers: lefthander Josh Hartle, righthander Luis Ortiz, and lefthander Michael Kennedy.

Horwitz, the 27-year-old infielder, was only a Guardian for a few hours as he was sent to Cleveland in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier Tuesday evening. Toronto acquired three-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andrés Giménez in the deal.

Horwitz played in 94 games for the Blue Jays last season and had a .790 OPS with 12 home runs. He should receive an opportunity to start for the Pirates in 2025, likely at first base.

The Bucs send their 17th-ranked prospect in Hartle to Cleveland in return. And Kennedy, a fourth-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2022, owns a 3.11 ERA over his minor-league career.

Ortiz, meanwhile, will join the Guardians' rotation that already features Tanner Bibee, Ben Lively and Gavin Williams. Ortiz registered a 3.32 ERA in 37 appearances (15 starts) for the Pirates last season.

Celtic are in the hunt for a permanent manager and that will take their focus over the international break, albeit they appear to be prioritising new arrivals regardless of who the new man in the dugout will be.

Martin O’Neill has presided over the Parkhead hotseat since Brendan Rodgers’ acrimonious departure from the Scottish Premiership champions, and there is still plenty of speculation over who could replace the Irishman on a full-time basis.

Since coming into the club after a 20-year hiatus, the former has delivered a morale-boosting victory over Falkirk and led the Bhoys to the Premier Sports Cup final in an enthralling triumph over Rangers, leading some reports to claim O’Neill could take the role permanently.

Nevertheless, there is a long list of candidates, something that refuses to narrow ahead of the international break. Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen is also a Celtic managerial candidate amid a glorious spell in Norway.

On the flipside, the main drawback of any approach to hiring the 57-year-old is that he would like to finish their Champions League campaign before committing to life in Scotland.

Wilfried Nancy, Robbie Keane and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna are also on the Bhoys’ radar. Either way, this feels like a pursuit that may go on for time to come as majority shareholder Dermot Desmond carefully considers his options.

Away from the managerial hunt, Celtic are considering a bid for Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, who is available to sign a pre-contract in January and is also wanted by rivals Rangers.

Recruitment is ongoing as the reigning champions look to bolster amid Heart of Midlothian’s push for the title, and they may now look to an untapped market to land a shining star.

Celtic bid to sign Under-20 World Cup winner Hossam Essadak

According to AfricaFoot, Celtic have submitted an offer for Moroccan attacking midfielder Hossam Essadak, who is currently on the books of Union Touarga Sport.

Recently, he featured in the Under-20 World Cup with his nation, captaining them to glory after they defeated Argentina 2-0 in the final to record a historic triumph.

Not short of suitors, Sunderland have also made an official bid to try and sign the blossoming talent, and European clubs are said to be at the front of the race for his signature despite further interest from Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane in his homeland.

Per Fotmob, Essadak created four chances, completed four dribbles and won six duels during Morocco’s World Cup heroics, and he could well be the latest star Celtic look to sign from North Africa after their summer capture of Sebastian Tounekti.

Celtic are also plotting an emotional move for a Premier League icon

Admittedly, the Bhoys are well-stocked in midfield, and departures may be needed before new arrivals can integrate themselves at Lennoxtown, though it does seem as if work is ongoing to bolster the ranks with talented stars with potential to develop.

Carlo Ancelotti has explained why he ordered Estevao Willian to hand Brazil's second penalty to Lucas Paqueta in the draw against Tunisia, with the West Ham star's subsequent miss proving costly for the Selecao. The five-time world champions squandered a host of chances throughout the 90 minutes as they limped to a 1-1 draw against the African nation in their final international match of 2025.

• Wasteful Brazil end 2025 with a draw

  Brazil ended 2025 on a disappointing note as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited Tunisia side, as Ancelotti oversaw his second draw as Selecao boss on Tuesday. The five-time world champions missed several chances throughout the game, including Rodrygo's early attempt, which was cleared off the line. Tunisia then took a shock lead in the 23rd minute as Hazem Mastouri broke the deadlock.

  Casemiro and Vincius Junior then both came close to equalising before Estevao restored parity from a spot-kick in the 44th minute. Brazil were handed a second penalty in the 78th minute after Ferjani Sassi fouled Vitor Roque. Estevao, who had earlier converted a penalty, was instructed not to hand the kick over to West Ham star Lucas Paqueta, who then blazed over the crossbar.

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  Ancelotti explains why Paqueta took second penalty

  Speaking to reporters after the game, Ancelotti explained why he ordered Estevao to stand down despite scoring the first-half penalty, telling reporters: "Paqueta was the penalty taker. For the second penalty, I changed because I wanted to take some of the pressure off Estevao, so I put Paquetá in, who usually takes them very well."

  Analysing Brazil's overall performance, Ancelotti added: "Certainly, many, many (players). A few are missing, the list is quite complete. There are two friendlies left, but there are six months left, where anything can happen, the schedule is very demanding, the risk of injury is very high. The team, the atmosphere, are on the right track to reach the maximum level at the World Cup. 

  "I have a lot of confidence in this team, in these players, and especially in this environment, which is a good environment. The players are serious, professional, and patriotic. They have a lot of affection for the shirt, and these are very important aspects."

• How are Brazil shaping up for 2026 World Cup?

  Brazil will have two more friendlies in the March international break before they head to North America for the 2026 World Cup.

  Ancelotti went on to reveal his message to the squad ahead of a lengthy international hiatus, saying: "I spoke with them (the players), wished them the best for the games they are going to play, we are observing them, staying in contact with them, talking, keeping the communication open until March and the World Cup. That's the idea we have, there's an observation process that will be very important."

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  Estevao backed for Ballon d'Or

  Estevao, who has enjoyed a fine start to his career at Chelsea, scored in both the friendly matches that the Selecao played in November and is likely to be a key member of Ancelotti's World Cup squad next summer.

  Tunisia boss Samsi Trabelsi hailed the youngster as a 'football genius' before Tuesday's game and backed the 18-year-old to become one of the best players of his generation. "I think he's a new football genius emerging, very young," he said. "I think he's doing very well and he's a player who can be expected to be among the greats, among the best in the world, certainly, in the coming years. If he manages to have good performances or win titles, whether with his club or national team, he will be among the players who, in the coming years, could even compete for the Ballon d'Or. He brings many solutions, a lot of technique, a lot of genius. There aren't many players of that level, of that category of genius, on the world stage."

The Toronto Blue Jays took a major bite out of the 2026 MLB free agent class when they locked up perhaps the best player due to enter the market. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year, $500 million contract took him off the board for what was already looking like a weak crop of free agents.

At 26, Guerrero looked to be the best young hitter available and had the best chance of creating a massive bidding war for his services. Now teams will have to focus their attention elsewhere to improve this winter.

The biggest beneficiary of Guerrero coming off the board is Kyle Tucker. The Chicago Cubs outfielder is now the undisputed top bat available in the offseason. He has already begun his contract year in impressive fashion. Through Thursday's games, Tucker ranks in the top two in the NL in hits (19), home runs (5), RBIs (16), runs (16), total bases (40) and OPS+ (221), and has 14 walks against seven strikeouts.

The Houston Astros rarely extend their high-priced stars and decided to move Tucker this offseason. They clearly believed there wasn't a deal to be had, and given the massive contracts Juan Soto and Guerrero received, Tucker has every reason to hit free agency and create a bidding war. Guerrero set a new market for non-Soto/Shohei Ohtani players with his $500 million deal, and it wouldn't be shocking if Tucker approaches that number despite being two years older than the Blue Jays star.

Over the past three seasons, the 28-year-old has averaged 27 home runs and 89 RBIs while hitting .275 with an .878 OPS and 145 OPS+. In that time, he generated 15.7 WAR. Those numbers would be higher, but he was limited to 78 games in 2024 due to a shin injury yet had an incredible 183 OPS+ in 339 at bats.

After Tucker, the bats are interesting—though there isn't a standout star. Kyle Schwarber and Marcell Ozuna are designated hitters only at this point, but they can still put up big numbers. Luis Arráez has won three consecutive batting titles but has no pop, lessening his prospects for a big contract. Eugenio Suárez is coming off a big bounce-back campaign in 2024 and has hit 30 homers in three of the last four years. Cedric Mullins is an interesting case as the 30-year-old has become one of the few pure center fielders who can hold his own at the plate.

It's a mixed bag, with Schwarber appearing to be the most coveted, given the fact that he hasn't had an OPS below .817 in a non-COVID season since 2017.

Leeds United have their eyes on a tricky January transfer to sign a new forward who has been compared to Crysencio Summerville.

Leeds’ lack of goals in Premier League as 49ers eye forward

The Whites have struggled in front of goal so far following their return to the Premier League, with centre-back Joe Rodon the club’s joint top scorer in the top flight.

Daniel Farke’s side have only scored 10 goals in 11 games, with bottom of the table Wolves the only team to score fewer (7).

Only three attacking additions were made over the summer, two of which were free transfers in Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. It is looking like a decision the 49ers Enterprises could live to regret, but they do have their eyes on attacking reinforcements in the New Year.

Brazilian forward Jhon Jhon is one name that has emerged in recent weeks, and he already has Red Bull links at RB Bragantino in the Brazilian Serie A. Journalist Graeme Bailey said:

“He’s a fascinating player. Very interesting. A bit of an attacking midfielder, can play as a forward. His name has come up in conversations with Red Bull, and he’s within the Red Bull name. He’s a good age, good player. Ticks a lot of boxes.

“Leeds aren’t the only ones looking. He’s come up in conversations, and one I’d not heard before until recently.”

Leeds set to make imminent bid for Real Madrid ace after Farke convinces 49ers

The Whites are looking to bring in a new forward, having not scored enough goals so far this season.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 21, 2025

Domestically, Coventry City’s Haji Wright is another attacker who has been linked with a move to Elland Road in recent months, and there has been a fresh claim regaring the Whites taking the USA international in the New Year.

Update on Leeds’ move for Haji Wright

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have four attacking targets who they could move for in January, one of which is Wright.

It is stated that the Whites ‘have a genuine interest in signing Wright’ and ‘the club are considering a concrete move for a player they have tracked since the summer’.

A deal is viewed as tricky with Coventry top of the Championship, however, Wright’s contract is set to expire in 2027.

Despite the difference in size, Wright has been compared to former Leeds attacker Summerville due to his ability to play off the left.

Primarily a centre-forward, though, the 27-year-old has scored eight Championship goals in 14 appearances so far this season.

Labelled as a “constant problem” for defenders to keep tabs on by his manager Frank Lampard, it has previously been suggested that an offer of £20m could be required to sign Wright.

How Leeds believe they'll convince Raheem Sterling to join with move in the works

Jude Bellingham’s treatment with the England national team may have put him off “from playing in the Premier League”, claims ex-Manchester City, Chelsea and Three Lions star Shaun Wright-Phillips. Bellingham has seen some of his behaviour questioned by those in his homeland, which could lead to the Real Madrid midfielder shunning a future return to his roots.

• Birmingham native Bellingham now a 'Galactico' in Madrid

  Bellingham stepped out of his comfort zone when leaving boyhood club Birmingham for German giants Borussia Dortmund in 2020. He is now a ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu with La Liga and Champions League titles to his name.

  The 22-year-old has also earned 46 senior caps for his country, becoming a talismanic presence for England, but continues to attract criticism for supposed character flaws – with Thomas Tuchel having previously admitted that his mother finds some of Bellingham’s on-field antics “repulsive”.

  While some have been quick to knock Bellingham down, others continue to talk him up. Arsenal legend Ian Wright sits in that camp, with the former England striker claiming that some people are not “ready for a black superstar” before going on to say that Bellingham’s potential “frightens these people because of his capability and the inspiration he can give”.

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  Will Bellingham shun future interest from the Premier League?

  Wright-Phillips stands by those comments from his father and admits that a global superstar may start to ask questions of whether he ever wants to play club football in his homeland again.

  The Premier League title winner told : “If I was Jude Bellingham, I think it could put me off from playing in the Premier League, definitely. In England we seem to target a player ahead of a big tournament, like they’re dying to break one of them down.

  “I’ve just never understood why. You want your players going into a tournament full of confidence. Arrogant, almost. You want them knowing and thinking they can win. The press should big them up, help them, not tear them down like this. The press causes problems and puts doubts in their head, and changes the way they think.

  “I think if you change a player’s personality, you change how they play. That’s not always good. Far from it. I think the players need to just concentrate on what they're doing. So if I was Jude, why would I come back when I can stay at Real Madrid and enjoy life at the same time, without bad press that comes for no reason.

  “I think he’s the go-to man for England, and I sometimes do not understand why he is in the crosshairs. He’s not perfect, but he’s performing well for club and country. It’s not like he has some huge arrogant attitude, or plays badly. They should leave him be and let him prepare mentally.”

• Selection headache: How do England fit everybody in?

  Amid reports of Bellingham potentially being left out of England’s 2026 World Cup squad, Wright-Phillips added on the problem that Tuchel faces when it comes to getting so many creative talents into his team: “My approach would be first of all to tell the players that this is England, so there’s no shame around being a substitute for the team at the World Cup. It’s about getting the best team out on the pitch, not necessarily all your best players.

  “I feel like England miss a maverick at the moment. They need a creative No.10, someone who creates something from nothing, and the closest to that is Cole Palmer. Then I’d pick two wingers, maybe [Marcus] Rashford, [Jarrod] Bowen or [Bukayo] Saka.

  “But if not Palmer, then [Phil] Foden and [Morgan] Rogers are great options. At eight, you have Bellingham and then Declan Rice at six, with Elliot Anderson ready to come in for him. Bellingham has the running power, as does Declan, so they can both be up and down on the pitch. Then you have your players ahead of those two to just terrorise the opposition. You need a back four who can stop the counters. England have so much potential. I don’t think it matters too much whether it’s Foden or Palmer in that role, as long as the team is set up properly.”

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  2026 World Cup draw: When England will discover their opponents

  England, with Bellingham still very much part of the fold for now, will discover their initial 2026 World Cup opponents when the group stage draw takes place on Friday – with Tuchel preparing to piece together plans for another shot at global glory.

Paul Skenes was on the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, up against a stalwart Philadelphia Phillies lineup. As he always does, Skenes didn't hesitate to go after some of the game's biggest sluggers.

In his first plate appearance, Bryce Harper got a taste of why Skenes's arm is so highly heralded. The second-year ace struck out the two-time National League MVP with three consecutive fastballs, none of which registered at less than 99 mph.

Have a look:

Skenes stayed up and away against Harper, getting him to reach out of the zone on a pair of 99 mph fastballs before striking out with a triple-digit heater in a similar location.

Nasty.

Skenes racked up five strikeouts across the first three innings of the game, needing just three pitches to dispose of Harper in the first inning.

West Ham United have now made an enquiry over the signing of Union Saint-Gilloise striker Promise David, amid doubts over Niclas Fullkrug’s future at the London Stadium.

West Ham have been much-improved from an attacking point of view since the beginning of November, scoring eight goals in their last three Premier League games, with Callum Wilson finding the back of the net three times in his last two outings.

Most recently, a first-half brace from the former Newcastle United man put the Hammers in a very strong position to pick up three points at AFC Bournemouth, but the Cherries fought back and Nuno’s side squandered a two-goal lead, which will undoubtedly be frustrating for the manager.

That said, Wilson’s recent form in front of goal is definitely encouraging, especially considering Niclas Fullkrug’s future with the Irons is now in major doubt, as revealed by Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg earlier this month.

West Ham lodge enquiry to sign Promise David

With Wilson’s current deal to expire in the summer, and the Englishman potentially in the latter stages of his career at 33-years-old, West Ham have now made contact over a deal for a new striker, namely Union Saint-Gilloise star David.

That is according to a report from Claret & Hugh, which states enquiries have been made about a deal for the centre-forward, with chief analyst Max Hahn particularly keen on bringing in players from the Belgian Pro League.

The 24-year-old remains under contract at the Belgian club until 2030, which puts them in a strong negotiating position, but there are signs it could be worth the Hammers paying whatever they ask for.

The eight-time Canada international is off to a flying start to the campaign, having already scored eight goals in all competitions, including one on his Champions League debut in the 3-1 victory against PSV Eindhoven back in September.

The Ontario-born centre-forward also caught scout Jacek Kulig’s eye as a result of his form during the 2024-25 campaign, being lauded as “outstanding” in March, before going on to finish the season on 24 goals in all competitions.

With Fullkrug looking to move on, it would make sense to bring in a new striker this January, especially given that there are still likely to be concerns over Wilson’s injury record, having spent long periods on the treatment table during the previous two seasons.

It would be a gamble to sign David, with the Canadian yet to prove himself in a major European league, but his goalscoring record in Belgium is certainly encouraging.

West Ham send scouts to watch the "best" striker in the Championship

West Ham now send scouts to watch the "best" striker in the Championship

The Hammers are hoping to be impressed.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 22, 2025

A new league, a new routine, and a surprisingly “boring” life in Germany – John Tolkin tells GOAL he’s finding stability at Kiel just as his USMNT chance reopens.

If you’ve followed John Tolkin’s career, “boring” is just about the last word you’d use to describe him. This is a player who once said he wanted to retire to a private island so he could spearfish and play Wii Golf all day. A player who changed his hairstyle almost weekly in MLS. A player teammate Jack McGlynn once called “a different kind of human,” and who has described himself as a “simple creature” with plenty of thoughts about New Jersey car rides, American food composition and tiki bars.

So how could Tolkin ever be boring? As it turns out, he means something different. “Boring” now reflects a sense of stability – a comfort level he’s been searching for. As he pushes for a World Cup place, boring means consistency, and consistency at a high level. It means settling into a rhythm in a new league, at a still-new club that’s beginning to feel like home.

For one of American soccer’s most distinctive personalities, boring might actually be a welcome change.

"I've actually been pretty boring lately. For me, it's just going to training and playing, man. It's the easy life," Tolkin tells GOAL. "It's been about being super low-key. It'll stay like that from now until the Christmas break and that's it, man. I've been chilling. That's it: just chilling."

He hasn’t exactly been sitting still, though. In recent months, Tolkin has become one of the 2. Bundesliga’s most effective attacking outlets with Holstein Kiel, contributing one goal and two assists as he rebounds from the frustration of relegation last season to play some of the best football of his career. He’s also worked his way back into the USMNT picture, delivering his strongest senior performance in the 2025 finale against Uruguay. Taken together, there’s plenty for Tolkin to feel energized about – even as he embraces this new, low-key version of himself.

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  A home in Germany

  Much of 2025 has been a whirlwind for Tolkin. Shortly after joining the USMNT for January camp, he was whisked away to Germany to complete a big European move to Holstein Kiel from the New York Red Bulls. He wasn’t able to save the club from relegation, but he still earned a late call to the USMNT’s Gold Cup squad. Then it was straight back to Kiel for preseason, taking just four days off after the tournament.

  “It was hard,” he says, “but that’s what it is, right? … I kick a ball for a living, you know?”

  Getting back quickly also had its benefits, allowing him to begin the most important process: making Germany feel like home.

  “It’s good now,” he says. “I met a neighbor the other day – he’s a Kiel fan. He and his wife were lovely. I’ve joined a golf club, too. Me and my teammates all belong to this club, and on off days we’ll go play. I’m not gonna lie: I’m cooking these fools out there. That’s been a fun one.”

  Over the last few months, those simple comforts have helped Kiel start to feel like his own. It’s not a small city – about 250,000 people – but it’s a far cry from the New York and New Jersey metro area where he grew up and made his name in MLS. Now that he’s settled, Tolkin has embraced it.

  That wasn’t always a given. Transfer rumors swirled after the club’s relegation, and there were real questions about whether he would stay. But Tolkin ultimately remained, giving him the chance to continue the journey – both the club’s and his own.

  “I was freaking out the other day,” he says with a laugh. “I was on the phone and said I was going to fly back home after [USMNT] camp, and they were like, ‘You’re going to New Jersey?!’ Nope – I meant Kiel. I guess it does feel like home. Naturally, it took a few months to settle into it.”

  He said his family is flying in from New Jersey for Thanksgiving, and added that spending more time with his teammates this season – a tight locker room with “a lot of cool guys,” as he put it – has helped Kiel start to feel like home.

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  'It's like a f***ing war'

  What matters now is how that translates onto the pitch. Kiel have struggled to establish upward momentum, sitting closer to the relegation zone than the promotion race, but Tolkin’s individual performances have stood out in his first full season in Germany.

  Tolkin was thrown into the deep end last season, joining a club experiencing its first, and now only, year in the Bundesliga. Survival was always going to be difficult given the quality of the league, and Kiel eventually finished 17th.

  “I think last year, a lot of teams had more possession than us, and we would look to counter a lot,” Tolkin says. “This season, especially at home, we’ve had a lot of the ball, and I like having a lot of the ball. It’s been nice – more possession, more fluidity. Teams also respect us because we’re coming from the first division. It’s good and bad, but the possession and control have been nice.”

  Tolkin has taken advantage. He scored his first goal of the season on Aug. 17 in a DFB-Pokal win over Homburg, followed a week later by another against Greuther Fürth. He then provided an assist against Hannover and added another in late September against Karlsruher. Defensively, he has been just as effective: the 23-year-old currently ranks fifth in the 2. Bundesliga in interceptions.

  There is an asterisk – it is still a second division. But anyone familiar with the 2. Bundesliga knows it is a unique environment: one that may lack the top-to-bottom polish of the Bundesliga but matches its passion and often exceeds it in intensity.

  “It’s a grind, man. It’s like a f***ing war,” he says. “Maybe the technical ability isn’t the same as the first league, but in terms of intensity and guys laying themselves on the line? It’s a different level.”

  He points to a recent match: a 1-0 win at Schalke, one of German soccer's most famous teams.

  “When we went there, it was like, ‘Oh my God, this is the second division? This doesn’t seem right.’ The fans, the stadiums, the atmospheres – they’re as good as the first division.”

  The grind of the 2. Bundesliga also prepared Tolkin for a USMNT return. Called back into the team in November, Tolkin was handed a massive chance in one of the final pre-World Cup camps. He seized it by putting in his best USMNT shift yet.

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  Renewed USMNT aspirations

  Tolkin’s showing against Uruguay was, admittedly, easy to overlook – understandable given the nature of the match. The USMNT ran away as 5-1 winners, overwhelming Uruguay with a barrage of goals in a comprehensive team display.

  Starting as the left wingback, Tolkin played his part. He logged 75 minutes, completed 17 of 20 passes, drew two fouls, created a chance, and completed two crosses into the final third. Defensively, he stuffed the stat sheet with two interceptions, a tackle, and several clearances. Most notably, he was never dribbled past.

  Tolkin isn’t the only one coming into his own; the USMNT is, too. The growth traces back to the Gold Cup, which Mauricio Pochettino has called a turning point. Tolkin featured four times in that tournament and says the group rediscovered its competitive edge.

  “The team showed that we do care and that we want to win,” he says. “Maybe it’s not pretty all the time, but the passion is there.”

  The U.S. showed a bit of that fight against Paraguay with a late scuffle, which players pointed to as a positive sign.

  "A lot of these teams around the world use that stuff to their advantage, so when you can level it out, that's good," he says. "Now, I'm not promoting real fighting, but, hey, if you need to defend yourself? I'm all for that."

  A new fight is beginning now, one within the USMNT, and Tolkin is right in the middle of it.

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  Day by day

  With the World Cup approaching, Tolkin sits on the fringes of the USMNT picture. He hasn’t been a regular starter – three of his four Gold Cup appearances came off the bench – but his showing against Uruguay offered a timely reminder of his value. Whether a strong run with Kiel can keep him in the conversation remains to be seen.

  “It’s close, but it’s in what, six months? It’s still a lot of time, and you can’t really think about it,” he says. “Maybe it’s in the back of your mind, but you have to focus on how you perform every day. You can’t get to the end without the before.”

  For now, his focus is on helping Kiel climb the table.

  “I think the team is a little inexperienced, but we’re hungry,” he says. “There are a lot of quality players, and I think in the second half of the season you’ll see a serious push. Personally, it’s been alright, but I think we need more goals. If I can help with that, great.”

  The path is straightforward: keep his head down, train, grind, and let the results follow. It may feel a bit boring now – at least until everything takes off. For the moment, Tolkin is embracing a rare stretch of calm, even as he looks ahead to what may come next.