Meet the four players flying the Major League Soccer flag in Bob Bradley´s 23-man squad for the World Cup. While Kansas City Wizards midfielder Roger Espinoza will be toiling away for Honduras in Group H and Andrew Boyens of New York Red Bulls in Group F with New Zealand, Bradley´s four MLS stars will be hoping to get up close and personal with England, Algeria and Slovenia in Group C. Having 19 players in the squad airlifted in from foreign leagues sounds like a poor reflection of American football, but I´m hopeful that at least three of the four domestic representatives will get some time on the pitch.

The headliner is Landon Donovan, the versatile LA Galaxy attacker/midfielder and American soccer´s pre-Beckham shining star. Donovan is undoubtedly one of the league´s most talented players and is often referred to as the USA´s best ever product. It´s probably fair, too. Donovan´s an impressive player with pace to burn, excellent crossing ability, a good passing range and a knack of scoring spectacular or important goals. On top of all that he takes a mean set-piece.

It´s often asked why Donovan hasn´t made it in Europe if he´s such a top player. He´s had a couple of spells in Germany, making a handful of appearances for Bayer Leverkusen almost a decade ago and spending January 2009 on loan at Bayern Munich. That didn´t really go his way, but a successful month with Everton earlier this year brought Donovan to the attention of even the most domestically obsessed Premier League supporter. So what´s the problem? Well, Donovan probably wasn´t ready for Europe 18 months ago any more than he was suited to German football. England is different and he´ll be here permanently at some point. If Everton had been willing and able to stump up the cash, he most likely would be already.

Donovan´s circumstances have changed, it seems. He´s matured into a fine leader and an American soccer icon, but at the same time has had to deal with the challenges presented by David Beckham´s arrival in Carson and all the politics and power struggles that underpinned the former England captain´s first few years in California (and Milan). He has separated from his wife, Bianca Kajlich, an actor whose career obviously relies on living within a manageable distance of Hollywood. It could also be said that he has, finally, grown into his own ability and outgrown MLS.

Whatever happens, he´ll be a crucial part of any progress the USA makes this month. His club colleague Edson Buddle will struggle for the kind of game time Donovan will enjoy - Jozy Altidore is above him in the pecking order but could be adaptable enough to partner the Galaxy striker - but has been selected on the back of a stunning goalscoring start to the 2010 season. Before it kicked off in March, nobody would have given Buddle a hope of making the squad or even being considered. Nine goals in nine games later he´s simply too hot to exclude.

If he makes an impact in South Africa, Buddle´s will be a great story. He´s dealt with significant problems off the pitch to hit an almost ridiculous run of form in the three months leading up to a World Cup and made himself indispensable.

At the back, Jonathan Bornstein isn´t quite so much to write home about. The 25-year-old Chivas USA defender features for the USA more often than most fans would like. He lives a charmed life as a Bradley favourite and benefits from a weakness at full back within the national team set-up. Although he won´t be the worst defender at the World Cup - or even in Group C - he does have a few worrisome deficiencies in his game. He could legitimately be classed as error-prone, and is turned by forwards far too easily at times.

But he won´t care about all that stuff, because he´s a Honduran national hero. Back in October, the already qualified USA played their final qualifier against Costa Rica at RFK Stadium. Bornstein´s equalising goal deep into stoppage time sent Honduras into the World Cup, sparking celebrations in the streets, chanting of Bornstein´s name and the most hilariously partisan piece of football commentary since Bjørge Lillelien.

Buddle had played himself into contention and, with Charlie Davies unavailable, was expected to make the cut. Not so Robbie Findley, the speedy Real Salt Lake striker whose inclusion raised more than a few eyebrows. Findley´s attributes as an athlete are undeniable but sometimes his football ability leaves something to be desired. In 2009, the season in which RSL ended up unlikely champions, Findley started in good goalscoring form with a hat-trick in the second match but so far this year he´s only found the net once. The chances are Findley´s appearances will be limited to use as an impact sub, and he could be very effective there given the right circumstances.

Although only a few players from MLS will be at the World Cup, the bulk of the US squad does have MLS roots. Any success will be viewed with pride by the league as it would inevitably feature a number of MLS alumni. And good luck to them (apart from Saturday, natch).