Former U.S. National Team striker Brian McBride announced last week his intentions of leaving his England club team, Fulham, and returning to Major League Soccer.

There's also speculation that other Americans playing abroad, including defender Carlos Bocanegro, might also be returning to MLS this summer.

Does Real Salt Lake have any hopes of acquiring one of these players?

Following Saturday's win over San Jose, general manager Garth Lagerwey said RSL will consider all possibilities, but realistically, the team's position in the MLS allocation process makes it highly unlikely.

Americans returning to MLS are distributed to the 14 teams via an allocation process. That order carries over from year to year and is based largely on missing the playoffs as well as compensation for teams losing marquee players who leave for other leagues.

Toronto currently occupies the top spot of the allocation list, whereas RSL is 14th.

"The only spot that matters is No. 1. You could see us trade up to get one of these guys, but it just depends when they come in," said Lagerwey. "You're going to have to make a real decision, is this the guy that's going to change your team or not, because you're going to have to give up somebody good."

Either way, RSL has no shot at McBride according to Lagerwey, who played in the same youth soccer club with McBride back in Chicago.

"I spoke to him this week, and he's very interested in taking his family back to Chicago," said Lagerwey. "On the first point there's no chance we'd get him anyway through allocation process, and second, there's a moral argument here. If anybody's earned it, this guy's earned it. If he wants to come back to Chicago to play his last years there, I tip my hat to the guy."

A few months ago RSL occupied the third spot on the allocation list, but used it to sign defender Nat Borchers when he decided to return to the United States after a two-year stint. That decision dropped the club to the bottom of the allocation list.

Regardless of the allocation order, RSL has the resources to be a factor with any player returning to MLS. Not only does it have an available roster spot after trading away Carey Talley, it's also several hundred thousand dollars under the salary cap and also has a designated player opening.

For Lagerwey and coach Jason Kreis, as these players officially sign contracts to return to MLS it's all about weighing the options.e

FINDLEY NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 10 for his one goal, one assist effort in RSL's 3-1 win over San Jose last Saturday.

After entering the game just before halftime, Findley scored the game's first goal in the 48th minute and provided the assist on Javier Morales' 60th minute at Rice-Eccles Stadium. This is the first Player of the Week award for the 22-year-old Findley. Last season Findley led all MLS rookies with eight goals.

Findley's Player of the Week honor is the first for an RSL player since former player Jeff Cunningham garnered the award for his two-goal effort in RSL's 2007 season opener against FC Dallas.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com