While Columbus Crew forward Brian McBride continues to recover from surgery to remove a blood clot, a procedure which interrupted his stay at Preston North End in England’s First Division, a number of other MLS players are currently training or playing on loan with clubs in the same country. D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen continued with his impressive showings at Nottingham Forest. Last Saturday he started in a 2-1 last-minute home loss to Wimbledon. It was Olsen’s second start and his sixth appearance. He appears to have a grasp on the left flank position as the regular starter will miss the rest of the season with knee ligament damage. Also in Europe, four other Earthquakes are currently split between Denmark and Poland. With the reserve team season (Orestad Cup) coming to a stop for the winter break, goalkeeper Jon Conway is working out with FC Copenhagen’s first team. He is expected to return to the U.S. on Nov. 27. The Lech Poznan (Poland second division) trio of ‘Quakes were not involved in their squad’s 1-0 loss to first-place Odra. Ian Russell and Jimmy Conrad, both regular starters, were suspended for the match and Wojtek Krakowiak, rested a groin strain and missed his fourth match in his native land. San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon has been training with clubs in the Manchester area, including Manchester United. He will be returning to the U.S. in the beginning of December. Also, D.C. United midfield duo Antonio Otero and Bobby Convey have been training with Premier League side Ipswich Town. An injury to Convey’s hand has prompted the MLS teenage sensation to return home for medical evaluation. The latest news is that three more players, all from the Colorado Rapids, will begin a training stint with Manchester City of the English Premier League. Goalkeeper Adin Brown, forward Wes Hart and midfielder Jason Moore are expected to depart for Europe on November 26 and spend three-weeks. Midfielder Seth Trembly will join First Division leaders Fulham for three weeks of practice through December 20. In Belgium, Tampa Bay Mutiny forward Amos Magee is playing with the reserve side of Cercle Brugge, a team that is currently fifth in the Belgian second division. Dallas Burn goalkeeper Matt Jordan joined Columbus Crew forward Jeff Cunningham with first division club Gent for an extended training period. Gent is in fifth place after 13 matches with its 1-0 victory against Mouscron last Saturday. Cunningham is expected to remain in Belgium through the end of the month while Jordan will stick for the rest of the year. Luis Hernandez of the Los Angeles Galaxy, currently on loan with America of the Mexican First Division, scored two goals for the Mexican club in their crucial win over Atlante, 4-1, in the last game of the regular season. The win got America into the playoffs of the 2000 Torneo Invierno Hernandez’s first goal, which proved to the game winner (69th minute), came as a result of a brilliant individual play. “El Matador” took the ball a shade in front of the midfield line, dribbled to his right and eluded four Atlante players and as he entered the box anticipated goalkeeper’s Jorge Campos’ defensive dive at his feet driving the ball to the near post and into the net. In Trinidad, the Colorado Rapids’ Keyeno Thomas and Columbus Crew defender Ansil Elcock both started in a 2-1 league loss to Western Connection. Thomas had an assist on Joe Public’s lone goal. The loss prevents Joe Public from winning the Trinidadian league title. The club is still in the running for the Trinidad FA Cup (semifinal) and will also be part of the Caribbean Cup finals in the beginning of December that will determine the eighth and final TFC Champions Cup entrant. San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Travis Mulraine may resume training with Joe Public as soon as today after resting a thigh strain. In other training news, the New England Revolution forward duo of Jamar Beasley and Fabio Zuniga continue their training with Deportivo Maldonado, a first division team in Uruguay which currently stands 13th in the 17-team Uruguyan Clausura championship. Tampa Bay Mutiny defender Steve Trittschuh is in Bangkok, Thailand where he has joined Rajpracha in the 28th Queen’s Cup competition. Rajpracha confronts Sintana in its opening Group B match. The championship final will be held on December 1. In WISL action, the Dallas Sidekicks defeated state rivals, Houston Hotshots 5-4 in a game that featured three MLS players. Kansas City Wizards forward Ihor Dotsenko netted a goal for Houston but it was not enough to overcome the Dallas Burn duo of Eric Dade and Ted Eck and the rest of the Sidekicks. The Hotshots also dropped an 8-3 result to the Utah Freezz on Thursday. The WISL playoffs are up next for both squads.