Why new age invasion is paying off

American stars earning their stripes in English football is nothing new, but what has changed since the days of Roy Wegerle and Cobi Jones is the age range of the new recruits.

As coaching improves in the States, Premiership clubs have started to sign up some of the best young talent emerging from Major League Soccer.

Arsenal's Danny Karbassiyoon is the latest addition to a list of proteges which includes Manchester United's Jonathan Spector and Liverpool's Zak Whitbread.

Many of these young players hold dual nationality helping them bypass the kind of work permit issues that prevented Tottenham from signing DC United's Bobby Convey.

United are leading the assault on the US market. They signed Tim Howard in the summer and are chasing striking sensation Freddy Adu, 14, who was given the red-carpet treatment on the club's recent tour of the States.

Howard's emergence as the Old Trafford No1 this season alongside two other first-choice Premiership goalkeepers - Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel - is a source of great pride in their homeland. Trey Fitzgerald, director of communications of Major League Soccer, predicts it won't be long before more outfield players start to make an impact.