Where are the goals coming from?

Before I went around to looking at the rest of the roster or trying to figure out who the starting XI would be for the United States opening match in next month’s World Cup, I asked myself one question: who is going to score for us?

It’s well known that FC Sochaux forward Charlie Davies was fighting not only for his life, but his place on the team following an October accident that left one person dead. It was also widely reported that Davies was one of America’s best options in the attack prior to the multiple injuries he sustained.

“Charlie has shown incredible heart and determination to reach this point in his recovery,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley Tuesday. “We have followed his progress extensively during the past several months through physical examinations and personal observation by our staff, and he remained in consideration for this training camp until (Monday). FC Sochaux notified us that at this point Charlie has not been given medical clearance, and that they would not grant his full release to join the camp."

Davies, along with 20-year old Jozy Altidore the two would have been a combination that would have been formidable against just about any pair of central defenders in the world.

Now the United States will prepare for South Africa with six forwards, three of whom have never scored for the stars and stripes. Edson Buddle, Robbie Findley and Herculez Gomez have a combined seven caps. If any of these three see the field in the World Cup opener against England, June 12, consider me surprised.

Meanwhile, retreads Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson will be asked to recall past glories and potentially partner with Altidore up front.

I have always been an Eddie Johnson fan, so it was good to see that his form has merited the U.S. coaching staff considering him fit for the team. It never hurts that the 26-year old Johnson is from Florida.

It’s possible Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan will be deployed as the second striker, but the U.S. plays better when those two creators are in the midfield. Donovan and Dempsey have proven they can score big goals for the U.S. but that ability is not worth choking the service to the forwards.

Only 23 men will make the final roster, so it’s possible that that U.S. head coach Bob Bradley may have a few wrinkles to iron out to see which forwards make the trip to South Africa.