[AMERICANS ABROAD] Maurice Edu made his Scottish Premier League debut for Glasgow Rangers after practicing just twice with his new club. In England, where Americans are seeing little action this season, Tim Howard celebrated a win with Everton. For more on Americans in Britain, France and Belgium. …

Edu, 22, started in the USA's 1-0 win over Cuba on Sept. 6 but stayed on the bench in the USA's 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago last Wednesday.

Since moving from Toronto FC to Glasgow Rangers, Edu, who played for the USA at the Olympics in China, has flown three times to the USA from Scotland and has spent little time with his new teammates. But he started in Rangers' 2-1 win at home against Kilmarnock in front of 50,019 fans and played 64 minutes.

"It has been really busy going back and forth but I am here now and it is going to be good to just train with the guys for the next few weeks without any international distractions," Edu told the Times of London. "I did not expect to be playing against Kilmarnock. I've been everywhere in the last few weeks since coming back from Beijing to Glasgow to talk to Rangers. Then I went to Toronto, then on to Guatemala, then back here to sign, then Cuba and Miami last week for the World Cup qualifiers – I think some people think I'm trying to get free flights."

Edu got the start because of an injury to Kevin Thomson in practice on Friday.

 

"I was not intending to give him his debut and it's always awkward when players are traveling those distances in the international break, so it was maybe a little bit unfair on him," said Rangers head coach Walter Smith. "However, I thought Maurice showed some really good touches and we look forward to him settling down and getting some training under his belt now."

Fellow American DaMarcus Beasley also started for Rangers and was subbed at halftime.

In France, Freddy Adu made his third appearance for Monaco as a late sub as his team won, 2-0, against Lorient. Carlos Bocanegra went the full 90 in Rennes' 1-1 tie with newly promoted Le Havre.

In Belgium, Oguchi Onyewu started for defending champ Standard Liege a day after returning from national team duty and celebrated a 2-0 win over Kortrijk.

In the English Premier League, Everton keeper Tim Howard made a couple of good saves and was victim to an own goal in a 3-2 win at Stoke.

Just back from national duty, Clint Dempsey stayed on the bench in Fulham's 2-1 home win over Bolton.