THE BAD NEWS outweighs the good these days for American soccer players abroad, as many Yanks find themselves playing in lesser leagues, recovering in the infirmary, or simply watching from the bench. Here are the top stories from the weekend.

John Brooks facing uphill battle

Most people have seen reports about John Brooks at Hertha Berlin. While quick online translations seem to indicate he was “waived” by Hertha, the more likely scenario is that he is being demoted to the club’s U-23 team for the time being.

This is not the first time Brooks has had conflicts with his club. Toward the end of 2013-14 season Brooks elected to get a large tattoo on his back and the club made a statement that his body was not recovered enough to play.

It's unclear on how long Brooks will remain in the doghouse at Hertha but there is no positive spin here. He is in trouble and this could jeopardize his national team status over the long run if he does not sort it out soon.

Andrew Wooten scores in 4th straight

Unlike his past three games, Andrew Wooten did not score a late game-winner for Sandhausen over the weekend. Still, he did find the back of the net again—in second-half stoppage time—in a 2-1 loss to Eintracht Braunscheweig.

His goal came off a penalty and, remarkably, the German-American nearly scored the equalizer just a minute later. With one of the game’s final kicks, Wooten beat the keeper but his shot rattled the post.

It's hard to say if Jurgen Klinsmann is considering Wooten for an October call-up but the German-born forward is certainly making a spectacle of himself. He has scored all of Sandhausen’s goals during the month of September; no one else on the club has tallied since August 22. Wooten has never played for the U.S. senior team and last suited up for the United States in a 2011 U-23 match.

Growing pains for Hyndman and Rubin

Emerson Hyndman and Rubio Rubin are two of the best American teenagers in the game right now and both have been given a great deal of responsibility by their respective clubs, Fulham and Utrecht.

This past weekend both players earned starts and it is clear that their first seasons at the professional level are not going to be smooth ride as both players were not as sharp had been in previous games. This is to be expected. In fact, a bit of a reality check is a good thing. Both players are still highly regarded by their clubs so there is a good chance they will continue to see plenty of action. My guess is that both players will emerge stronger.

Timothy Chandler rising

Chandler put together a solid outing at right back in a 2-1 win over lowly Hamburg SV. Although he did not enjoy a strong start to the season, Chandler has found his way back into the starting lineup and is gaining momentum heading into the October friendlies.

Chandler has had his share of injuries in recent years and his well-publicized lack of commitment to the U.S. national team at times soured his image among American fans. Because of all that, it's easy to forget just how strong of a player Chandler can be when he is on his game. Perhaps a long, healthy run of games will serve as a reminder at the start of the cycle.

Danijal Brkovic Best in Bosnia

The Bosnian Premier Liga is not often discussed or followed by people in Europe, let alone in the United States. But it is worth mentioning that Olimpic Sarajevo’s American forward, Danijal Brkovic, is currently tied for the goal-scoring lead with five goals—all of which being scored in his last five games.

Brkovic, 23, scored twice on Saturday in a 3-0 win over Travnik to help Olimpic climb to fourth in the standings. Born in Dubrovnik during the height of the war but raised in Johnson City, New York, just outside of Binghamton, Brkovic is among his league’s best strikers this season.

Stabaek Standing Ground in Norway

When Bob Bradley was hired to coach a newly promoted Stabaek last January, he inherited a club that needed a lot of work to avoid a quick relegation. At the start of the year, the players' average age was around 20 and the budget was quite low. Bradley brought in several players, including Americans Andrew Jacobson (on loan from New York City) and Michael Stephens (on a permanent deal), and both have found their way into the starting lineup in Sunday’s win over Lillestrom. Stephens played particularly well in the win, boosting Stabaek’s passing and possession game.

Although it bowed out of the Norwegian Cup after a semifinal loss to Molde, Stabaek is holding steady in seventh place—nine points out of relegation with just five games remaining.

The club has a distinct American feel these days and is exceeding expectations. It's one of the better stories for Americans abroad in 2014.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.