IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN. The European and Mexican leagues are starting up and that means it’s time for me to once again begin tracking embedded American youths, shoveling coal in to as many respective hype-trains that my spindly arms can manage.

We are just two months away from CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. Currently, U.S. U-23 coach Andres Herzog is no doubt finalizing his player pool in preparation for upcoming training camps, which includes two warm-up friendlies against England and Qatar in September. For the most part, Herzog kept a steady hand when filling in his roster sheets in recent months. But offseason player movement as well as the graduation of Tab Ramos’ most recent cadre of under-20 talent will undoubtedly provide some interesting dilemmas moving forward.

How will the club success of the outgoing U-20 class influence Herzog’s selections? Who will be available for qualifying on a non-FIFA date? Who might Jurgen Klinsmann want included for the Confederations Cup playoff that takes place the day before Olympic spots are contested?

The biggest question: How many U-23s are actually good enough?

It has long been my assertion that any zero-hour Olympic qualifying roster could include as many or more outgoing U-20s than current U-23s. Nearly every player in the U-23 player pool is struggling for solid, first-team minutes—even in MLS. One has to wonder if this realization has increased the necessity for an upcoming under-23 college identification camp, especially one positioned this late in the preparation phase.

If you want an idea of what Herzog is facing, just take a look at his roster. Outside of DeAndre Yedlin and Kellyn Acosta it’s hard to say that many have made a significant leap in terms of their burgeoning pro careers. Among the standouts of that squad: Wil Trapp has been brilliant at times but is currently sidelined. Freiburg’s Caleb Stanko is just back after a torn ACL. Cody Cropper and Mario Rodriguez are still trying to prove themselves at the lower levels in Europe. Luis Gil is in and out of the Real Salt Lake lineup.

The rest? Check an MLS bench or lower division near you.

And what about the rest of the pool? DeAndre Yedlin and John Brooks are automatic calls; Jordan Morris is possibly the truth; and Julian Green did score at the World Cup after all, you guys. Beyond that, it’s a tough call. To add some clarity, let’s take a closer look at the current state of the U-23 player pool as Olympic qualifying approaches.

GOALKEEPERS

Cody Cropper had several opportunities during the preseason to compete for the MK Dons No.1 shirt, but the goalkeeper appears to have been edged out ahead of the Championship club’s final friendly match with Chelsea reserves on Tuesday, a 2-1 loss. Cropper started four of six friendlies during preseason.

Up north at Leeds, Charlie Horton finds himself in a similar position. The third keeper down, Horton was an unused substitute in the club’s final preseason affair, a 2-0 win over Everton on the weekend.

After working in and out of the starting XI during preseason for Freiburg II in the German fourth division, outgoing U-20 goalkeeper Zack Steffen got the start for his club’s first regular season fixture, a scoreless draw against FC Saarbrucken. Reports on Steffen’s progress during the preseason were scant, but receiving a start in the opening match of the campaign is a good sign for his future at the club (which already boasts three eligible American internationals).

Fellow U-20 backstop Ethan Horvath is also seeing a breakthrough with Norwegian side Molde. Since the club’s previous starting keeper was transferred in late June, Horvath has started the last three regular season matches as well as the club’s Champions League qualifiers—which included a wild 3-3 draw with Dynamo Zagreb this week to eliminate them from the competition.

And in MLS: Cropper’s continual inclusion and the ascension of the U-20s means that Sporting KC reserve keeper Jon Kempin is on the outside looking in, as is Seattle Sounders backup Tyler Miller who recently transferred to Seattle Sounders after his German club was relegated to the fifth division.

DEFENDERS

The bedrock of the under-20 backline at the World Cup, Cameron Carter-Vickers continues to impress at Tottenham. Like Robinson, the 18-year-old (justone day from being U-17 eligible!) has started every available match for Spurs’ reserves and has also seen time with the first team, playing the second half in a first-team friendly with Reading last week.

On Saturday, Carter-Vickers played 90 minutes and captained his side to a 2-0 friendly win against Stevenage.  At this point, it appears to be even odds on the next American international to see Tottenham first-team minutes: Yedlin or Carter-Vickers.

Juan Pablo Ocegueda has been a mainstay for this age group going back to the 2013 World Cup cycle, where he started more matches and played more minutes than any other defender. Currently on loan from Tigres to Ascenso MX side Oaxaca, Ocegueda started most matches during the 2014-15 season. Despite missing the season opener and only playing the first 45 minutes in last week’s Copa MX match against Pumas, Oceugueda returned to the starting lineup on Friday, playing 90 minutes in a 2-1 win over Leones Negros.

A strong U-20 World Cup and persistent troubles at right back for the senior team have placed an extra focus on Desevio Payne, the 19-year-old defender who begins his second season with FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. Despite training with the first team, for the time being it appears Payne will primarily suit up with the reserves given his limited presence throughout preseason. That said, he did score in the opening minute of a first-team friendly in early July.

Looking like the surprise standout of the preseason, Everton’s young left back Antonee Robinson has made a dramatic leap in only a few short months. The English-born defender spent all of last season with the Blues’ U-18 squad before making five consecutive starts for the reserves at the end the year. Robinson, who has played for the U.S. under-18 national team, made the move to the U-21s permanent in the offseason and has remained a steady fixture, starting all but one match during preseason.

When Robinson wasn’t starting, he was busy handling a surprise first-team call-up to Everton’s senior squad. "It was a good week away and a great experience training,” the 18-year-old said of the trip to Singapore. “The lads have welcomed me back and asked all about it. It’s been really nice.” Only hours after his first-team jaunt ended, Robinson rejoined the U-21s in Ireland and scored his first goal with that unit in a 3-1 friendly win over Rhyl.

And in MLS: Matt Miazga is absolutely killing it for New York Red Bulls. Let’s go ahead and just pencil him in now for Olympic qualifying. Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas) has looked solid, albeit in limited minutes. Christian Dean (Vancouver II), Oscar Sorto (LA II), and Boyd Okwuono (Real Monarchs) are putting in work in USL.

Best of the Rest: Luis Martir (Chivas)and Ramon Martin del Campo (Saprissa) have yet to feature for their clubs this season. Will Packwood remains out of contract.

More U-20 Standouts: U-20 outside back John Requejo continues to see time with Club Tijuana, playing 90 minutes in the first two matches for Xolos’ reserve squad. Requejo’s frequent U-20 backline partner, Shaq Moore, has officially joined Hurucan Valencia in the Spanish third division; no preseason reports have emerged regarding his place within the team.

Possible Surprises: Hamburg defender Ashton Gotz was reportedly fast tracked for the full national team in February before something hit a snag. The youngster could be in play here.

MIDFIELDERS

He’s under the age of 23, a midfielder, and he’s receiving first-team minutes outside of MLS? It can only be Tijuana’s Alejandro Guido. The 22-year-old, who exited with an early injury during his last national team appearance, could have the inside track among Olympic-eligible midfielders. After starting in the Liga MX opener, Guido unused substitute last weekend, but played a full 90 for the Xolos in a midweek Copa MX tilt. Definitely somebody to watch.

In less-than-encouraging news, Fulham’s Emerson Hyndman has spent much of the preseason out of the Fulham’s first-team lineup. After making early starts in contests against Crawley Town and Hertha Berlin, Hyndman has missed the last three first-team friendlies for the Whites. After word spread early in the week of heavy transfer interest in Hyndman, recent reports have the midfielder holding out for a new contract at Fulham. Stay tuned.

Freiburg’s Caleb Stanko continues to claw his way back to form following a devastating ACL injury last season. Despite steady first-team appearances during the club’s preseason, Stanko was not part of the gameday roster for the 2.Bundesliga kick off last weekend. On Saturday, Stanko made his return to the 18, but did not feature in a 1-0 win over 1860 Munich.

Perhaps you’ve heard, but Gedion Zelalem made a nice pass during a trip to Singapore.

Outside of that, Zelalem is bouncing back and forth between Arsenal’s U-19 and U-21 reserve squads—a common occurrence last season. Currently with the U-19s for the Durban International Cup, Zelalem and co. will finish off the final stages of the tournament before returning home. The U-21s kick off league play on August 14; the U-19s play the following day.

Another candidate for strongest U-23 performer is Stuttgart’s Jerome Kiesewetter. The 23-year-old has shown well for both club and country in recent appearances, earning him his first-team debut at the end of the last Bundesliga campaign. Back with the club’s reserves in 3.Liga, Kiesewetter got the start and played 90 minutes in a loss to Prueben Munster on Saturday.

Hoffenheim’s Russell Canouse is finally recovered from the injury that kept him out of the U-20 World Cup and is firmly back in the fold for the German club’s reserve squad. On Saturday the 20-year-old wore the armband and captained his side to an easy 6-1 win over SV Saar to begin the German Regionalliga campaign.

And in MLS: Fatai Alashe continues to see first-team minutes for San Jose as the surprise of the U-23 pool. Joining him is Tommy Thompson and ex-Liverpool midfielder Marc Pelosi, who are both seeing regular minutes—off the bench—for the Quakes. Will Trapp (Columbus) is making his way back from injury while Luis Gil has become a bummer to watch as he tumbles down the depth chart with RSL. Matt Polster continues to shine in a starring role for Chicago, while Kelyn Acosta (Dallas), Zack Pfeffer (Philadelphia),and Marky Delgado (Toronto) are driving the “play your kids” bandwagon. Dillon Serna (Colorado), Romain Gall (Columbus), and Jose Villarreal (Los Angeles)are all warming the bench.

Best of the Rest: Kristian Scott is finally catching on with the Leicester reserves after spending most of last season on the bench. He played in every preseason friendly, grabbing a goal and an assist in five appearances. Duane Holmes appears close to the first team plans for Championship side Huddersfield Town, where he has featured in four of five friendlies and scored a goal in the preseason. Former U-23 captain Benji Joya has fallen off the map dramatically after failing to catch on with three MLS sides and returning to Santos Laguna. Currently on loan to second division club Necaxa, he was a late substitute for the club’s second team during a Copa MX match last week. Daniel Cuevas hasn’t played for BUAP Lobos in more than a year—we can probably cross him off the list at this point.

Other U-20 Standouts: Lynden Gooch has picked up right where he left off last season—lighting up the scoresheet. Featuring in all four preseason matches for the Sunderland U-21s, Gooch finished with three goals, two assists, and two drawn penalties. Meanwhile in Germany, Junior Flores continues to be a part of the Borussia Dortmund reserves, getting the start for the squad’s Regionalliga opener, a 3-0 loss to Dusseldorf II on Monday.

While likely out of the U-23 picture, both Amando Moreno and Fernando Arce, Jr. have opened with strong performances for the Tijuana reserves. Captaining the side this season, Arce has played 90 minutes in the club’s two opening matches, with Moreno scoring in U-20 action on the weekend.

GOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!! @Amando_moreno with the equalizer. ???????? #GoXolos #LadrandoJuntos pic.twitter.com/opofvkwtUH

— @XolosOfficial (@xolosofficial) July 31, 2015

Possible Surprises: Besides the potential inclusion of under-20 standouts, U.S. Soccer could reach out to Leones Negros midfielder Jesus Vazquez. The 20-year-old, who has started every match for Universidad de Guadalajara this season, is apparently open to representing the United States. Based on current competition, he might have a decent chance to walk into Herzog’s squad.

FORWARDS

Following a strong World Cup, Rubio Rubin has continued to progress with FC Utrecht. Starting in two of the last three friendlies for the club—which includes a goal—Rubin has seemingly staked out his spot in the starting lineup. Rubin should be a first-choice striker for Olympic qualifying.

More than two years since his first-team debut, Paul Arriola appears to have finally left the Tijuana reserves behind. Making substitute appearances in the first two matches of the Liga MX Apertura, Arriola also got the start in midweek, playing 90 minutes and scoring a goal in a 2-1 Copa MX win over Zapatepec.

Mario Rodriguez is still plugging away with Borussia Monchengladbach where he has spent the last two-plus seasons with its reserve squad. After a strong start, his offensive production has steadily decreased over the last nine months. Unfortunately for him, that puts him on the outs with one of the most potent attacks in the German Regionalliga. On Saturday, Rodriguez entered in the 65th minute during a 5-0 win over Erndtbruck.

Reading’s Andrija Novakovich may have done himself a favor by missing the U-20 World Cup. With a full first-team preseason under his belt, the 20-year-old has pushed himself to the edge of the Championship club’s gameday roster—making several substitute appearances throughout preseason. The young striker’s rapid ascension should produce some first-team opportunities this season.

After a disastrous loan to Hamburg last season, poor on-field results, and a contentious offseason with parent club Bayern Munich, Julian Green has reportedly decided to remain with the club’s reserves as he awaits his first-team opportunity. To that end, the World Cup goal scorer has started each of the last two matches for Bayern II to begin the season. With no loan in sight, one can hope he can duplicate his scoring output from two seasons ago.

And in MLS: There aren’t too many domestic candidates to feature up front for Herzog. Khiry Shelton has been forced out of the lineup for NYCFC, Ben Spencer is on loan with Toronto II, and no one really knows where Alfred Koroma is.

Best of the Rest: Minus a serious shake-up or failure to recuperate from a recent stress fracture surgery, Stanford University wunderkind Jordan Morris will be chosen for Olympic qualifying. The top U.S. amateur player in recent memory, Morris is a special talent. South of the border, Alonso Hernandez, on loan from Monterrey to Ascenso MX upstart FC Juarez, has featured in the first two matches of the season for his new club.

Other U20 Standouts: Maki Tall and Bradford Jamieson are the long shots of this group.

Possible Surprises: On Friday, The American Messi (for real, this time) Christian Pulisic scored… a gamewinner—against Barcelona. It was only the U-19s, but it doesn’t matter. There are no brakes on the hype train.

ASN Contributing Editor Josh Deaver is a former academic turned soccer obsessive. Follow him on Twitter.