sport news John Harkes, Roy Wegerle and Cobi Jones recall prejudice and scepticism that ... trends now

The American influence in English football has never been greater. Four of the big six Premier League clubs are US-owned. So are Fulham and most of Crystal Palace, part of Aston Villa and almost half of Leeds.

At Elland Road, where Wisconsin-born Jesse Marsch is in charge, they spent £25million on Brenden Aaronson, a 22-year-old from New Jersey hailed as the 'Medford Messi'.

Christian Pulisic, the most expensive American player, has won the Champions League and Club World Cup since joining Chelsea for £58m.

Major League Soccer (MLS) is thriving, the USA will co-host the next World Cup in 2026 and, after their shock failure to qualify four years ago, they returned to the biggest stage with a 1-1 draw against Wales on Monday. Next up, it's England.

The scene is far removed from the one encountered by John Harkes, an early trailblazer who broke into the Premier League, won the League Cup, scored in a major Wembley final and appeared in an FA Cup final.

'We were vagabonds,' grins Harkes as he recalls first crossing the Atlantic to backpack with his friend, goalkeeper Tony Meola, from trial to trial. 'It was almost unheard of. Who really thinks they can go from America to make it at the highest level in English football? But you go for it. It takes guts but what is there to lose?'

This was January before they both played at Italia '90. Meola would go on to win 100 USA caps but struggled for a work permit at the time. Harkes, with Scottish parents, was eligible for dual citizenship. His father Jim came from Dundee where Harkes' son Ian has spent three years, impressing in midfield for Dundee United.

'I had a conversation with my mum and dad after the World Cup in Italy,' says Harkes. 'They were saying, 'Wow, we're so proud of you, you didn't win any games but that was brilliant, what are you going to do' and I was like, 'I wanna play pro'. My dad said, 'Well, I think you're good enough' and that was it. OK, let's do it.'

There was a contract on the table from Sheffield Wednesday, but Harkes was convinced by Ian St John and his son Ian junior, acting as agents, that he could earn more elsewhere.

'The offer was so low they told me not to accept it,' he says. 'I was naive. I should have taken it regardless of the salary just to get my foot in the door, but I went to Blackburn where I played a couple of games, did well, scored a couple of goals and they offered me exactly the same money.

'They all talk. Ron Atkinson was the manager of Sheffield Wednesday, I'm sure he knew everybody.'

When a trial at Celtic proved unsuccessful, Harkes made a sheepish call to Owls boss Atkinson. 'He said, 'Hopefully you've learned your lesson, you should have stayed here' and made me earn it again. I eventually convinced him and signed.'

Harkes went into digs with a local family, the Walkers, in a council block in Hillsborough, and embraced Sheffield, with its industrial heritage and blue-collar values similar to his home in New Jersey.

The Wednesday fans adored him in return, especially after his screamer past Peter Shilton from 40 yards in a League Cup tie at Derby, as the Owls went on to win their first major trophy for 56 years and clinched promotion with Harkes featuring in midfield and at right back.

'The best goal I scored,' admits the 55-year-old, now head coach of Greenville Triumph, a professional team from South Carolina playing in USL1, the third tier of US football.

'Maybe there was scepticism and, at times, I did feel a profiled prejudice. You know, what's an American doing here playing the old English game? I had to prove myself. But after that goal there was respect.

'I was lucky to go into a dressing room where there was experience and quality players. No-one more so than Viv Anderson, who went through his own adversity as one of the early black players.

'What a guy to learn from. I really leaned on him a lot and, looking back, a lot of things came together at the right time.'

Before Harkes, Roy Wegerle flew the Stars and Stripes in English football. Born and raised in South Africa, Wegerle arrived via university in Florida and the Tampa Bay Rowdies, where former England international Rodney Marsh was coaching.

Marsh stepped in to act as his agent when the original North American Soccer League collapsed in 1984, securing him trials and ultimately a contract at Chelsea. Wegerle was a gifted striker, though his creative spirit and flair were not always welcome at a club fighting relegation.

'It wasn't the Premier League of today with perfectly manicured pitches,' says the 58-year-old from his home in Florida. 'It could be a mudbath in winter — even at Old Trafford and Anfield — so a player like me wasn't first on the team sheet.

'Often, it was more of a scrap and a fight, an elbow and a punch, a pull and a spit, when you were fighting relegation.'

Wegerle keeps a keen eye on the Premier League. He admires Manchester City and the impact of Pep Guardiola upon English football, and must be tempted to think the modern game is more suited to his style.

'Where I grew up in South Africa, you were frowned upon if you didn't have the basic technical skill to do a trick and deceive someone,' he says.

'When I got to Chelsea it

read more from dailymail.....